The recovery of the **Iberian lynx** continues to take firm steps in **Andalusia**, Spain. This week, two new specimens, **Verde and Vencejo**, were released in Sierra Arana, in the municipality of Iznalloz, Granada, as part of the species’ reintroduction plan in its **natural habitat**. The event was led by the President of the Andalusian Government, Juanma Moreno, who emphasized the importance of [preserving biodiversity](https://noticiasambientales.com/compromiso-ambiental/10-especies-al-borde-de-la-extincion-que-hoy-son-un-inspirador-ejemplo-de-recuperacion/) and protecting natural environments as “our home, our progress, and our future.”
During the release, Moreno recalled that **the Iberian lynx disappeared from this area over 40 years ago**, and celebrated that since December 2022, 28 specimens have been reintroduced in the region of Montes Orientales. “One third of the Andalusian territory is a protected natural space, and our responsibility is to preserve it with active and serious policies,” he emphasized.
The Iberian lynx, once a **symbol of the threat of extinction** in the Iberian Peninsula, now represents a success story in conservation. According to official data, currently **there are more than 800 lynxes in Andalusia, and their population is growing at a rate of 20% annually**. Many of the animals released into the wild have started to reproduce, a clear sign that ecosystems are responding favorably.
This recovery was made possible thanks to the impetus of European programs such as **LIFE** and **Lynx Connect**, coordinated by the Andalusian Government with the participation of more than twenty partners. These initiatives allocated more than 18 million euros, co-financed by the European Commission, for **the protection of the lynx and its environment**.
## Protection of the Iberian lynx habitat and breeding centers
The Andalusian Government also focused on **improving the habitat** and **infrastructure affecting wildlife**. Measures taken include awareness campaigns, road adaptations, and improvements in safety for animals in transit areas.
Moreno also highlighted the fundamental role of breeding and recovery centers, such as La Olivilla in Santa Elena (Jaén), **where about 170 Iberian lynx cubs have already been born**. He especially thanked the professionals at the CREA (Centers for Recovery of Threatened Species) for their dedication to wildlife care.
## Two decades since the first captive birth
2024 also marks a symbolic milestone: **20 years since the first litter of Iberian lynxes born in captivity** at the El Acebuche center in Doñana. “Today is a day to celebrate conservation advances. Thanks to the richness of our forests and mountains, there are towns in Andalusia looking towards the future with hope,” Moreno expressed.
The event was attended by local and provincial authorities, including the Minister of Sustainability and Environment, Catalina García; the Minister of Development, Rocío Díaz; and the Mayor of Iznalloz, Carlos Romero. All of them agreed on the importance of **continuing to strengthen the link between biodiversity and sustainable development**.
The release of Verde and Vencejo is more than a symbolic liberation: it represents **Andalusia’s ongoing commitment to wildlife** and the hope for a future where coexistence with nature is a shared priority.
## **Success in conservation: the Iberian lynx downgraded to “vulnerable” thanks to WWF and other 20 organizations’ efforts**
With a total of 2021 Iberian lynxes recorded by the [latest census of MITECO](https://noticiasambientales.com/ong/exito-de-conservacion-el-lince-iberico-baja-de-categoria-de-amenaza-de-en-peligro-a-vulnerable-gracias-a-los-esfuerzos-de-wwf-y-otras-20-organizaciones/), the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species downgraded the species from **”endangered” to “vulnerable”** in its ranking.
The species’ recovery is mainly due to the joint work of 21 organizations, including WWF, which supported the Iberian lynx through **on-the-ground initiatives** and a powerful **captive breeding program** since 2002, contributing to the increase in the Iberian lynx population.
Despite this great news, **the species is still threatened by roadkills, illegal hunting, and a 70% decline in the population of wild rabbits**, its main food source, over the last 10 years.
Source: OkGreen.
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