Falco, the Iberian lynx cub born in captivity earlier this year, has died. Raised with his mother and siblings, the small cub suffered a seizure about a month ago. No other episodes of seizures occurred until the morning of Sunday, October 4th. Falco underwent emergency surgery but did not survive. A necropsy was performed on Monday. Results are pending.
Iberian Lynx
Native to Spain and Portugal, the beautiful Iberian lynx, Lynx pardinus, is listed as Critically Endangered with Extinction on the IUCN Red List. It is the most endangered feline species in the world. It is believed only 200 Iberian lynx remain in the wild today.
In order to conserve this endangered species, a captive breeding program is underway in Spain. Prior to Falco’s death, 16 lynx have been raised in captivity this year, seven of them at the La Olivilla Center, a breeding center located in Jaen, Spain.
Predominantly nocturnal, females weigh 20 pounds and males weigh about 30 pounds. Often confused with the bobcat, the spotted cat’s tail has a distinguishing feature – the tip of the tale looks likes it’s been dipped in black ink. The Iberian lynx can live up to 13 years in the wild.
The Iberian lynx have a highly specialized diet. But a sharp decrease in the rabbit population, the cats primary prey, has seriously threatened the Iberian lynx. The lack of food is attributed to overhunting, habitat degradation and disease. In order to survive, an adult lynx needs about one rabbit to eat a day. Besides a dwindling food supply, vehicle deaths, habitat loss, illegal hunting and accidental killings by snares and traps meant for other animals, also threaten this magnificent creature.
Lynx photo Programa de Conservación Ex-Situ del Lince Ibérico
I think the Amur leopard is even more endangered.. only approx. 30 individuels left in the wild.