During about 25 minutes, the television program ‘Biosphere’ – a weekly magazine that emphasizes environment matters – talked about the Iberian lynx – the most threatened feline in the world and one of Iberian Peninsula’s most charismatic species.

For this documentary, LIFE Habitat Lince Abutre was invited to make known the in-situ measures it has been implementing in cooperation with local stakeholders on behalf of the recovery of the Iberian lynx habitat and its main prey, the wild rabbit, given that captive breeding alone is not enough to ensure its future – we need to fight the threats that almost led this species to extinction, namely the loss of adequate habitat and the reduction of wild rabbit populations.


Take a look at the episode in case you did not have opportunity to watch it yet (only available in Portuguese):

 

Part of the program was filmed at the Moura/Barrancos Site (Natura 2000 network), specifically at Contenda Estate, one of the areas where, in partnership with the local (Moura) City Council, the LIFE Nature project Habitat Lince Abutre has implemented a set of measures targeting the recovery of wild rabbit populations, including a protection enclosure and pastures protected with electric fences to prevent herbivory by other species, namely wild ungulates (deer, wild boar) – explained to Biosphere the project’s coordinator, Eduardo Santos.

‘What will change with the return of the Iberian lynx?’ – this was one of the issues focused by Biosphere…
* The National Association of Game Producers and Landowners (ANPC) spoke about the fear for ‘restrictions’ on hunting activities that might (or not) be applied in case of Iberian lynx’s presence, having suggested the creation of a treaty between governance and local populations explaining all the land management issues or changes that may result from the species’ reintroduction (planned for soon).
* Under the scope of LIFE Habitat Lince Abutre, several awareness campaigns have taken place targeted at local populations, stakeholders and schools, because the success of the efforts around the Iberian lynx conservation depend on this species’ acceptance by them– as warned by ICNB (the national authority responsible for the conservation of nature) and LPN (the oldest ENGO of the Iberian Peninsula and project coordinator of LIFE Habitat Lince Abutre).
* José Maria Pós-de-Mina, the local Mayor, speaks of other type of interests for the region – ecotourism associated to the Iberian lynx’s presence and the development opportunities to the council that may result from it.