Iberian lynx population reaches 2,663 in Spain and Portugal

The Iberian lynx population has grown to 2,663 individuals in Spain and Portugal, according to a 2025 census report. This marks a significant recovery from 2002, when fewer than 100 lynxes remained in the wild. The population increased by 10.9 percent over the previous year and has nearly doubled since 2021.

Of the total population, 2,269 reside in Spain and 394 are in Portugal. In 2025, researchers recorded 952 cubs born globally. While the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) downgraded the species from “Endangered” to “Vulnerable” in 2024, it remains classified as endangered under Spanish legal catalogs.

Conservation efforts, including a joint breeding program launched twenty years ago, have expanded the species' range to 26 different areas. Castilla-La Mancha now hosts the largest population with 1,051 animals, followed by Andalusia with 885. Despite this success, traffic remains a major threat, with nearly 80 percent of found carcasses resulting from vehicle collisions.