What can a conservationist pilgrim do to help bring back this wonderful feline back to the
camino frances.
Disclaimers:
- This post might be long
- All the info on this post is as far as I know
I don't know when was the last time an Iberian lynx was seen on the Camino Francés but, probably, it was a very long time ago.
Nowadays, officially, Iberian Lynx can be found (on freedom) in Andalucía (mainly in Doñana National Park and in -part(s) of- Sierra Morena), in Castile La Mancha and in Extremadura. Estimation data of number of Iberian Lynx is roughly 300 in Andalucía (data from 2013;
www.iberlince.eu/index.php/esp/lince-iberico-esp/distribucion), less than 20 in Castile La Mancha (data from 2007;
www.europapress.es/castilla-lamancha/noticia-lm-contabiliza-traves-avistamientos-analisis-excrementos-total-15-linces-territorio-20071105145727.html) and roughly 10 in Extremadura (data from 2015;
www.gobex.es/comunicacion/noticia&idPub=15736). In the case of Extremadura, all of them re-introduced (see below about re-introduction programs). Info about areas where Iberian Lynx have been found from 1988 can be found on the next link (that, BTW, includes much more info about the Iberian Lynx) dated on 2012:
http://awsassets.wwf.es/downloads/lince_online_newsletter_1.pdf
If you don't read Spanish, take a look at the map on page 2. Red=2002 census Dark Blue=Iberian Lynx found death Light Blue=Iberian Lynx excrements The
skin colour squares=1988 census
I said
officially in the paragraph above because there are reports of Iberian Lynx sighting on other places (all of them in XXIst century). In the South of the province of Salamanca has been seen several times. The Autonomous Goverment of Castile and León tried to find evidence of it but it just found one Iberian Lynx excrement (confirmed by DNA). In Castile and León too, an Iberian Lynx was seen in the Sierra de la Culebra, Zamora province. Another Iberian Lynx excrement was found on the Autonomous Community of Madrid but, once again, that was all. There are also reports of Iberian Lynx sightings in the North of the province of Cáceres, in Extremadura before re-introduction programs started in the area. For more info:
http://sociedad.elpais.com/sociedad/2012/05/14/actualidad/1337001717_810815.html
www.laopiniondezamora.es/comarcas/2011/02/11/avistado-lince-iberico-culebra/497342.html
There are also 5 centers where Iberian Lynx is breed in captivity. 4 of them are in Andalucía and the fifth one is in Zarza de Granadilla, Cáceres, Extremadura. The aim of those centers is to breed healthy Iberian Lynx in captivity so they can be re-introduced on freedom in suitable habitats. For more info about re-introduction programs:
www.lynxexsitu.es/index.php?id=ing
www.iberlince.eu/index.php/eng/
www.lifelince.org
If you read Spanish, on
www.lynxexsitu.es/programa.php you have links to the National Extrategy for Iberian Lynx Conservation and the Action Plan for Captivity Breeding of the Iberian Lynx (both documents are
long and in Spanish).
Last month, the Iberian Lynx passed from Critically Endagered to
just Endagered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. For more info:
www.iucnredlist.org/news/conservation-successes-overshadowed-by-more-species-declines-iucn-red-list-update
Regarding the return of the Iberian Lynx to the camino francés, I don't think we'll see it soon because none of the areas of Castile and Leon considered susceptible of Iberian Lynx reintroduction are in the CF. For info about those areas:
www.diariodeleon.es/noticias/noticiascuriosas/castilla-leon-cuenta-areas-susceptibles-reintroducir-lince-iberico_814952.html
Ok, I wrote too much but didn't answer yet your question about what can you do. I would suggest to get in touch with an organization with programs and campaigns in favour of the Iberian Lynx like, for example, wwf (
www.wwf.es) or the above linked Life Lince.
The Iberian Lynx (no snow) is limited to Andalucia.
It isn't limited just to Andalucía. Take a look above for more info.