“In these 15 years, 170 animals were born at the center. Of these, 132 survived more than six months and 110 were reintroduced [into the wild], 17 of which in Portugal, which represents almost a third of the animals released here”, said the coordinator of the Iberian lynx breeding program in captivity.

15 years ago, on October 26, 2009, Azahar arrived in Silves (Faro district) to begin the captive breeding program in the country, marking the return of the Iberian lynx to Portugal, after 20 years of disappearance.

Since then, due to the work of this and other centers in Spain, the Iberian lynx population in Portugal, which was practically non-existent since the end of the 20th century, has reached almost 300 specimens, said the coordinator of the Iberian lynx reintroduction program in Portugal.

It is in the Guadiana Valley, in a territory that covers the municipalities of Serpa and Mértola, in the district of Beja, and Alcoutim, in the district of Faro, that these animals have their habitat in Portugal.

According to data from the Iberian census carried out in 2023, the lynx population in the Iberian Peninsula exceeded 2,000 specimens, double compared to 2020, with populations present in four Spanish autonomous communities: Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha, Andalusia and, more recently, in Murcia.

A population of 291 lynxes is recorded in the Guadiana Valley, 10 years after the first couple of lynxes bred in captivity in Portugal were released in December 2014: Jacarandá and Katmandu.


According to João Alves, from 2019 onwards, the animals crossed the Vascão River, on their own initiative, to Alcoutim, where there was an abundance of wild rabbits and partridges, “and settled down, began to reproduce and form a small nucleus, but which is part of the Guadiana Valley complex”.

According to Rodrigo Serra, the path started in 2009 had many ups and downs – “it’s a very long road”.

“These are already very expressive numbers, very large, but we here are aware that we are necessary. The Iberian strategy that is up for approval involves creating eight new populations of Iberian lynx based mainly on lynxes born in captivity, which implies continuing to reproduce at the same level until at least 2034 to bring the species to 'non-concern' status '” he noted.