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Captive
breeding is one of the actions being undertaken to try and prevent
the Iberian lynx declining to extinction. The plan is to breed
individuals in captivity until their is a surplus suitable for
reintroduction in the wild. In 2005, 1 female gave birth to 2
kittens. In 2006, 2 females gave birth to 2 kittens each, in
addition to a female who gave birth prematurely to a litter that did
not survive. The kitten in the picture is from one of the 2006
litters. Captive breeding is a highly expensive conservation action
whose success is never guranteed. However, the situation of the
Iberian lynx is so critical that radical actions are needed.
Parrallel to the captive breeding are a range of projects designed
to improve lynx habitat and increase populations of lynx prey, the
rabbit. |
