# Iberian lynx conservation and population trends > Developing situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/iberian-lynx-conservation-and-population-trends > Updated: 2026-10-31T10:12:08.000Z. Sources: 2. Developments: 2. The Iberian lynx population in Spain and Portugal has shown significant recovery, reaching 2,663 individuals according to a 2025 census. This growth follows a period where the species was near extinction, with fewer than 100 individuals remaining in 2002. The population has nearly doubled since 2021, with 2,269 lynxes located in Spain and 394 in Portugal. While the International Union for Conservation of Nature downgraded the species from “Endangered” to “Vulnerable” in 2024, it maintains an endangered status under Spanish legal catalogs. Conservation successes include a joint breeding program that has expanded the species range to 26 areas. However, vehicle collisions remain a primary threat, accounting for nearly 80 percent of found carcasses. In a notable recent sighting, an amateur photographer captured footage of a lynx with nearly white fur in the mountainous region of Jaén, southern Spain. Experts suggest the animal likely possesses leucism, a rare genetic condition causing partial or near-total loss of pigmentation, rather than being an albino. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-31: Iberian lynx population reaches 2,663 in Spain and Portugal The Iberian lynx population has risen to 2,663 in Spain and Portugal, recovering from fewer than 100 in 2002 through intensive breeding and conservation programs. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/iberian-lynx-population-reaches-2663-in-spain-and-portugal ### 2026-10-06: Iberian lynx with rare white fur captured on camera in Spain An amateur photographer captured rare footage of an Iberian lynx with nearly white fur in Jaén, Spain, a condition experts identify as leucism rather than albinism. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/iberian-lynx-with-rare-white-fur-captured-on-camera-in-spain --- Cite as: Iberian lynx conservation and population trends. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/iberian-lynx-conservation-and-population-trends