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Date Published: 28/05/2025

First ever Iberian lynx cubs born in Lorca

The Murcia government claims that this is a "historic milestone" in the conservation of this species

After a very shaky start, the ambitious project to reintroduce the Iberian lynx to the Lorca highlands has celebrated its biggest success to date: the birth of two lynx kittens, the very first in the Region of Murcia.

Though undeniably adorable, these two tiny lynxes represent a huge and “historic milestone” in the conservation of this endangered species, according to a regional government spokesperson, not to mention renewing confidence in the entire project, which has hit its fair share of road bumps.

Spearheaded by Life LynxConnect, the project began in March 2023 with the release of breeding pairs of big cats into the highlands of Lorca. A 225 square kilometer natural park was designated for the lynxes, in the Sierras del Gigante-Pericay, Lomas del Buitre-Río Luchena and Sierra de la Torrecilla.

The ultimate goal is for 32 animals to make this corner of Murcia their home, but the scheme has been beset by misfortune and tragedy from the beginning. From animals dying from starvation and ingesting inedible objects, to road accidents and actual disappearances, the project appeared doomed for failure on many occasions.

But now, with the birth of the two baby lynxes, known as kittens, hope has been restored.

The kittens are Urtsu’s offspring, a 7.6kg female brought from the Zarza Iberian Lynx Breeding Center in Granadilla and released in February last year.

Upon learning of the news, regional president Fernando López Miras stated that the Murcia government "will remain committed to the reintroduction" of this animal.

This "transcendental event", he added, is "a clear sign that the Highlands of Lorca meet the right conditions for Iberian lynxes to adapt and also reproduce freely in the Region of Murcia."

These births confirm a sustained population of the species on the Iberian Peninsula, where 2,401 specimens were recorded in 2024, representing a 19% increase over the previous year.

Muria originally joined the broader lynx recovery project on the Iberian Peninsula in 2012, through the project 'Recovery of the historical distribution of the Iberian lynx in Spain and Portugal (2012-2018)'. From that date, experts began working to identify the best reintroduction site for the recovery of this species.

In other news: A new sculpture for the entrance foyer of the historic Teatro Guerra in Lorca

Image: CARM

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