Iberian lynx

How it was counted

The census by the MITECO working group covers the lynx in Spain and Portugal. MITECO says the 2025 figure should be read as a minimum, so the true total is at least 2,663.

MITECO says the 2025 census figure should be read as a minimum number of lynx: at least this many known alive, not an estimate of the total.

Earlier figures

• 94 in 2002, a head count: the dated low. Source: MITECO, Organismo Autónomo Parques Nacionales (OAPN), page on Iberian lynx conservation (undated; latest year it cites is 2015).
• 2,401 in 2024: the previous count. Source: MITECO (Spanish Ministry for the Ecological Transition) working group with the regions and Portugal's ICNF.

What moves it

MITECO names the pressures as deaths on roads, habitat lost and broken up, a shortage of prey (rabbits) and illegal hunting methods. It says captive breeding and reintroduction are proving essential.

• roadkill. por atropello en infraestructuras viarias Source: MITECO (Spanish Ministry for the Ecological Transition) working group with the regions and Portugal's ICNF.
• habitat loss and fragmentation, scarce rabbit prey and illegal hunting methods. la pérdida y fragmentación de su hábitat, la escasez de especies presa (conejo), los atropellos y las artes de caza ilegales Source: MITECO, Organismo Autónomo Parques Nacionales (OAPN), page on Iberian lynx conservation (undated; latest year it cites is 2015).

Who is helping

The coordinated breeding programme, with centres funded by Portugal's ICNF (Silves), the Junta de Andalucía (La Olivilla) and OAPN (Zarza de Granadilla and El Acebuche), breeds lynx in captivity and reintroduces them. MITECO also credits public administrations, sector bodies, private estate owners and managers, and society at large for the spread of the lynx in range and numbers.

The next count

The count is annual. No date for the next release is known (checked 12 November 2026).

Sources

• MITECO (Spanish Ministry for the Ecological Transition) working group with the regions and Portugal's ICNF Last checked 12 November 2026.
• MITECO, Organismo Autónomo Parques Nacionales (OAPN), page on Iberian lynx conservation (undated; latest year it cites is 2015) Last checked 12 November 2026.

What changed

• 12 November 2026 Added to Live Species, on the wall, counted back up: At least 2,663 (At least this many, 2025).

Every change on the site