ONCE IN YOUR LIFE YOU MUST SEE A LYNX

 

The Iberian Lynx, a mythical and extremely rare animal, the rarest feline in the world. An estimated 400 animals still live in the wild. He was about to die, but luckily he is getting a little better now.

Meeting this animal is really an indescribable experience. You see a cross between a tiger, a panther and a cat. His golden eyes look straight through you and his drawing and sideburns are fantastic. When you see him walk gracefully, you realize that you are experiencing an extremely rare moment that you will cherish for the rest of your life.
And as a nature photographer it gives a kick to see the Lynx in your viewfinder, the beauty of this beast splatters off your screen.

Our journey is the first and only one that focuses specifically on photography of the Lynx. Many offer observation trips that are fine and where you can see a Lynx from afar, but as a nature photographer you just want this.

From skins with a perfect view and with excellent accommodation as you are used to from Wildpix.

Patience and perseverance are needed, but with top photos as a result!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Iberian Lynx : endangered but well protected

 

Although fortunately not all felines are threatened, unfortunately this is true for many species. Some species are even so seriously threatened that it is uncertain whether they will continue to occur in the wild for the next 50 years. The latter is true for the Spanish lynx which is probably the most endangered feline of all 36 (Amur panther and Asian cheetah also belong to this category).

 

The Appearance

 

Spanish lynx is about twice as big as a large house cat. The hind legs are slightly longer than the front legs. The tail is short and has a black tip. The coat can have all kinds of brown tones. The pattern varies from sharply delineated dense, round and elongated spots to blurred cloudy open spots. The front of the chest is lighter to white in color, as is the underside of the chin, throat and belly. The head is finer in build than other lynx species and the large ears with black plumes have a dark to black back with a white spot. The eyes have black eyelids and are white bordered with slit-shaped pupils. Adult lynxes have large round sideburns from the ear base to the base of the jaw. The sideburns have the coat choice and turn black towards the outside. Under their jaws they end in two white goatee whites. The nose leather is flesh-colored and black and the whiskers are white.

 

 

Distribution and habitat

 

habitat of the Spanish lynx consists mainly of dry shrub-covered areas and this lynx is found only in the south- west of Spain (west of the Pyrenees) in several separate populations, making its survival vulnerable. The total number is estimated at 84-140 (a new estimate at the beginning of 2011 is based on approximately 200). Data from early 2010 indicate that Coto Doñana has about 24-33 lynxes and that the population in eastern Sierra Morena is about 60-110 (the most important stronghold for this lynx). However, there are also regular young in the smaller populations of East Montes de Toledo, West-Sistema Central and some areas in the middle and western part of Sierra Morena. Adult lynxes defend a territory of 3-4 km² against lynxes of the opposite sex. Many rabbits have smaller territories.

 

Behavior

 

lynx lives alone and will chase other lynxes out of the habitat. Only during mating and when there are young, they interfere with each other. Lynxes are spinning cats and this lynx keeps quiet for more than 90% of the day and hides in thick heather groves. In the habitat of the Spanish lynx foxes, genets and other robbers are a rarity because they are seen as food competitors and are chased away or killed.

 

Hunting and diet

 

number of felines have a specialized lifestyle, including the Spanish lynx. Living on the ground, this lynx hunts almost exclusively the European rabbit (over 80% of all prey). This makes this lynx very vulnerable. The enormous decline in the number of rabbits since the 1950s has therefore had a major impact on the chances of survival of this lynx (even today). Other incidental prey animals are small rodents, hares, partridges, ducks, geese and young (dam) deer. The Spanish lynx can smell a prey at a distance of 300 m.

 

Reproduction

 

Spanish lynx has a nest once a year but does not reproduce every year. The mating season is from January-July with a peak in the first two months so that in March-April the most young are born (gestation period approx. 60-70 days). Most of the nesting places have been found at the foot of old cork oaks. On average 3 kittens are born (see the picture of kittens). The first 20 days the kittens stay in the den and the female moves them 3 to 4 times during this period. Only 1 or 2 young survive the first 10 months and naca

 

The young leave their mother for 1-1.5 years. They go looking for their own territory that is usually about 10-20 km from their 'parental home'. This period is the most vulnerable for young Spanish lynxes. As much as 50% is not making it, and research shows that by far the majority of the causes are man-made (car collisions, drowning in wells, snares, etc.).

 

Status and threat

 

Spanish lynx has the status "Endangered"

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on the IUCN Red List. Since the late 1980s, their number has fallen by 80%, with more than 40 populations collapsing altogether. One of the main causes is the decline of their natural prey; the European rabbit. Not only by over -hunting but especially by changing and disappearing suitable living environments and by the rabbit disease myxomatosis. Another cause is fragmentation and destruction of habitat by planting eucalyptus and pine and the disappearance of cork oaks. Motorways that cross their habitats and the use of snares for fox hunting also claim victims. Building on their habitat disturbs their peace and quiet and unshielded wells are a drowning hazard.