Iberian wildlife recovery: Lynx populations hit record high

The Iberian lynx population has reached a historic high, with a 2025 census recording 2,663 individuals across the Iberian Peninsula. This figure represents a 10.9% increase from 2024 and a nearly 95% growth since 2021. The majority of the population is concentrated in Spain, with 2,269 recorded, including 1,051 in Castilla-La Mancha and 885 in Andalusia. Portugal recorded 394 individuals.

This recovery follows intensive conservation efforts aimed at protecting breeding nuclei, improving habitats, increasing rabbit populations, and reducing road mortality. In 2002, the species was on the brink of extinction with fewer than 100 individuals remaining.

In Mafra, Portugal, the Iberian Wolf Recovery Center (CRLI) has announced new guided tour dates for September. Managed by the NGO Grupo Lobo, the center provides care for wolves that cannot return to the wild due to injuries or illegal captivity. The center aims to promote the conservation of the Iberian wolf and raise public awareness regarding the species' survival in Portugal.