The Iberian lynx.

Lynx pardinus is a species native to the Iberian Peninsula which is in a serious danger of extinction. It is the most threatened feline in the world. 
According to the organization SOS Lynx if it went extinct it would be the first extinction after the one of Smilodon 10000 years ago (indeed it is not a subspecies of the European lynx but a species in its own right).

It is 85-110 cm long and 60-70 cm tall and weighs about 13 kilos. It eats rodents, birds, amphibians and small reptiles; its biggest prey is the hare. It lives in territories of approximatley 10-20 square kilometres. 
Up to the half of the 19th century it was present in almost all the Iberian Peninsula. Nowadays there are only two small zones left in Andalusia, in southern Spain. In 2005 less than 100 specimens were counted, while in 2000 they were more or less 400 and in 1960 they were 4000. 

The only zones in which they live now are Doñana National Park and Andujar Sierra. 
The reasons for the disapperance of the Iberian lynx are the destruction of its habitat, voluntary or accidental poisonings, car accidents, wild dogs, poaching and the lack of preys. 

Luckily, there are good news. In 2005, precisely on the 29th of March, there was the first birth in captivity. In the two zones populated by the lynx, great efforts have been made and this species is on the road to recovery. In 2008 in the Andujar zone the maximum capacity was reached (150 speecimens). 
Now it is estimated that from here each year approximately 20 specimens are taken to be reintroduced in other zones. 

(Thanks to Lorenzo S. for helping me writing this post) 

The return of the lynx in Italy.

1920 was the year of the official announcement of the extinction of the lynx in the Italian territory.
Unfortunately, during the same period in almost the whole Europe this beautiful feline was definitively disappearing, because of centuries of deforestation, reduction in the number of preys and direct persecution.

Between 1970 and 1986, 7 reintroduction programs were attempted in Italy, France, Switzerland and Germany. While in the other countries they had success, in Italy the results started to arrive late and only in 1971, after Switzerland had released about 30 lynx, there were the first reports of sightings in the western Alps, precisely in Aosta Valley and Ossola Valley.

From the 80s on the lynx (lynx lynx) has come back in the forests of northern Piedmont, Giulie Alps and Carniche Alps and is now going south, along the forests of the Apennines.

Today, the largest Italian population is in the Gran San Bernardo zone and the data collected by the forest rangers show that these wonderful animals have arrived to the Abruzzo National Park (with 2-3 confirmed pairs).
In spite of all, in Italy the lynx remains very vulnerable because of car accidents, poaching and the destruction of its habitat and of the ecological network in the Alpine valleys, which are too often crossed by highways or railways.

(Thanks to Lorenzo S. for helping me writing this post)

Swedish Big 5: the Lynx.

The Lynx (also called "Tiger of the North") is Europe's largest wild feline. In Sweden, the estimated population is around 1.500 specimens (out of a total of 2.000 specimens throughout Scandinavia!) and it is the third most common large predator there. 
It is not easy to see lynx in their natural habitat, as they are shy and elusive creatures. However, lynx populations are increasing, so in a (hopefully) near future, a higher number of people will be able to see them. 

In Sweden, they can be found mostly in the northern and central regions, but they are expanding their territories and moving to other counties such as Småland, Halland,Västergötland, Sörmland, Uppland and Östergötland. 
In Sweden lynx are legally hunted (controlled by quota), like also in other countries (Norway, Finland, Estonia and Latvia), while in Switzerland, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, Italy and France reintroduction programs have taken place. Eurasian Lynx are quick to rebound if hunting pressures are lessened and protected areas with good prey bases are set aside. 

The main threat to lynx populations is the loss of habitat due to forestry activity and development and expansion of agriculture. 

The Berne Convention adopted an Action Plan for the conservation of lynx in Europe. It requires trans-boundary management of lynx and the formulation of national action plans for each country where lynx are present.