A walk on the wild side: the Iberian Lynx

 

In front of us the ochre earth glowed dully as the sun crept higher. At dawn the bird activity had been constant; more than thirty species had touched down amid a small swirls of dust. The Red legged partridges (Fr. Pedrix rouge) walked in in family groups, hesitant, coming from afar in the scrubby bushes and burnt grass; the rabbits (Fr. Lapin de garenne) singly or in twos. All the larger species were wary, never staying for long to drink; a quick bath, a splatter of drops.

                                              The main preys of the Iberian Lynx; rabbit  and Red-legged Partridge.

 By mid-morning it was mainly silent, save the quiet whir of the tiny fans we had to combat the heat, the mechanical click of our cameras; the occasional chatter of the magpie gangs, scruffy and down at heel, no longer like smart black guys in their finery, hanging out on the street corners of American cities, that I know from the magpies in the cooler north. Was that an alarm call? Why had they all suddenly scattered, retreating out of sight to hide away in the deep shadow of the holm oak branches? Was this the moment?

 I have just come back from a trip to southern Spain in search of sightings of the rare Iberian lynx (Fr. Lynx pardelle). The species is now listed as endangered, and at the beginning of the 21^st century was reduced to only 94 individuals in two isolated populations in Andalusia; however intense conservation measures since helped to increase the population to 1,668 in May of 2023. It is fortunate that there were two populations, as individuals have been translocated from one to the other in order to increase the gene pool, and there have been captive breeding programmes since 2007, one of Europe’s most successful conservation programmes.

 There are estates where water holes are maintained which are a draw for wildlife in the harsh, dry, climate, and there is a good chance to be able to see this magnificent feline, one of Europe’s top predators. Rabbits have been encouraged to breed on the estates, and we certainly saw many. The estates are mainly established for photographers, but you have to be committed to see this animal. My friend Adrian had tried, unsuccessfully, on four previous occasions.

 There are simple hides set up near the ponds, and you have two sessions per day. The first starts well before dawn for about five hours and another for the last three hours of the afternoon leading up to dusk. In mid-summer it can be very hot - drinking water is a necessity. We waited in the sunken hide, our heads barely above the level of the water, hidden behind one way glass.

 And then she strode out onto the clearing, walking with feline grace on the velvet paws which sheathed the retractable claws, her grasping weapons. One brief glance of the yellow eyes, the look of a true predator, never stopping in the flow across the stretch of a cricket pitch before merging once more into the shadows. Not really hunting, just a checking out the action by an animal  that has nothing to fear, arrogant, liquidly agile, an apex predator on the prowl. A slide of menace.

                                     The Iberian lynx; Jonathan Kemp

She was about 90 centimetres in length. The form of the body is interesting, showing powerful hind quarters that enable lynx to jump nearly two metres in the air after fleeing birds, and they can leap more than 7 metres horizontally when needed. It is not quite sure why they have tufts on their ears; one theory is that they act like whiskers, detecting movements in the surrounding environment, another is that they enhance hearing.

Magnificent. We were very happy.

This is not the species of lynx that exists in France. Found only, at the time of writing, in the Jura in the high Alps, but descending to lower altitudes to avoid deep snow in winter, is the Eurasian Lynx (Fr. Lynx boréal). Historically it was exterminated in the early 20^th century, but following reintroduction in the Swiss Jura has slowly spread and may be found on the French side of the border – if you are very lucky. Very occasionally there are rumours (even in the Aude) that someone sees a lynx, but without photographic proof this remains just that, a rumour.

 However, its future is far from assured, as in-breeding – these cats will often mate with their close relations – has led to lack of robust health. It is hoped that further reintroduction programs will remedy the problem but, as always, there is strong resistance from the farming community, reluctant to risk their domesticated animals. Incidentally the fossil record shows that lynx existed in Great Britain, but despite discussions to bring it back for more than 20 years so far there has not been any progress.

The Eurasian is larger than the Iberian, the biggest males weighing 30 kilograms, whilst the Iberian will only achieve a little less than 13 kilograms. So a bulkier animal altogether, evolved to capture its favourite prey, Roe deer (Fr. Chevreuil), and to survive the colder montane habitat where it is to be found.

 Some of the best photographs of lynx maybe found on the website of Laurent Geslin, and he has released a DVD concentrating on the European Lynx in the Alps and Jura mountains.