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) 

Corrida? No, gracias!

Esperanza Aguirre, president of the Spanish PP (Partido Popular) has begun a harsh critique against her environmentalist/animalist countrymen. 
She argues that the famous "corrida" (bullfight) represents the very essence of being Spanish. 
<< Being against bullfighting is equivalent to being anti-Spanish...>>. 
In Aguirre's opinion, bulls perfectly represent the Hispanic character and spirit. 

Unfortunately for her, recent polls show that 72% of her compatriots do not appreciate this traditional "show", with peaks of 82% amongst the young people and of 79% among the women. 
So, in the words of Aguirre in the whole Spain there would be a little less than 13 millions of "genuine Spanish" left...

Just to give you an idea of what "corrida" is...
Before the bull enters the arena he is kept in the dark, subjected to drugs and purges; he is beaten on the back with bags of sand; the turpentine is sprinkled on his paws, so that he cannot stand still; Vaseline is put in his eyes to cloud his view; his nostrils and throat are blocked; needles are pushed in his body. 

When the bull enters the arena "picas" are pushed into his body and they cause pain and hemorragies; "banderillas" (harpoons) are inserted in the bull's body: they lacerate even more his muscles, forcing him to lower the head; he is struck repeatedly by the sword causing increasingly severe pulmonary haemorrhage which suffocate the animal. 

When the bull comes out of the arena he is dragged away, often still dying and paralyzed, but conscious; when he is still alive, his ears and tail are cut, as trophies. 
At the end, he is slaughtered. 

CAN THIS HORROR BE CONSIDERED THE SYMBOL OF A NATION?