The Iberian lynx, one of the rarest cats in the world, is no longer classified as endangered, according to a report released by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
With a notable increase in population, the IUCN, which rates species on a “red list” based on risk, upgraded the status of the Iberian lynx from “endangered” to “vulnerable” on Thursday.
From 62 adult individuals in 2001 to 648 in 2022, its population increased. The IUCN says that the total population of young and mature lynx is currently estimated to be more than 2,000.
This species of wild cat lives in the Iberian region, which includes Spain and Portugal, as its name implies.
The animals were distributed throughout a total of 14 clusters, per the most recent census data.
The wild cat was once widespread throughout the Iberian Peninsula, but starting in the 1960s, its population drastically decreased.
Road accidents, poaching, and habitat degradation all contributed to the species’ near-extinction.
The cat is returning now.
The primary cause of the growth is the European rabbit, an endangered wild rabbit, whose population has been steadily expanding as a result of conservation efforts.
