Of the four species of lynx that exist globally, two are found in Europe – the Eurasian lynx, and its cousin, the smaller, more brightly coloured Iberian lynx, which is now confined to southern Spain and Portugal.
Rewilding Europe supports the comeback of both species by creating more wild nature through natural grazing, which favours the conditions for prey species like the rabbit.
The Eurasian lynx is found as a breeding species in five of Rewilding Europe’s operational areas: the Central Apennines (Italy), Velebit Mountains (Croatia), Southern Carpathians (Romania) and (Bulgaria), as well as Swedish Lapland (Sweden) and the Oder Delta.
Although no Iberian lynx have settled in the Greater Côa Valley in northern Portugal, an animal released in 2014 in southern Spain has visited the area. The local rewilding team are working hard to create favourable conditions for the animals to recolonise the area. By introducing wild herbivores mosaic landscapes are created, favouring prey species such as European rabbit and red-legged partridge.
Choose this cause to help Europe’s “big cats” make a welcome recovery.