2. This lynx was once distributed over the entire Iberian Peninsula. It is now restricted to very small areas, with breeding only confirmed in two areas of And alusia , southern Spain. The Iberian Lynx prefers heterogeneous environments of open grassland mixed with dense shrubs such as Arbutus, lentisk, and Juniper; and trees such as Holm oak and Cork oak. Mainly in mountainous areas covered with vegetation; maquis or "Mediterranean forest" HABITAT
4. Diet and hunting Lynxes need around just under a rabbit a day. The crucial time determining the lynx’s population is autumn when rabbit numbers are at their lowest. Rabbits make up 75-100% of lynxes’ diet, depending on the area and the time of the year, though experienced adults are capable of bringing down roe deer and even red deer. (In parts of Spain they were known as lince cerval or lobo cerval – the deer wolf). They will also take small birds, ducks, partridge, rodents, hares, especially when the availability of rabbits is low. But nowhere can they survive for long with a sizable rabbit population. Like most European carnivores, lynxes hunt mainly at night, herein the difficulty in actually seeing and photographing them. Lynx will stalk their prey though their most common technique is to lie in wait for hours behind a bush or rock, until the prey is sufficiently close to pounce in a few lightning strides. DIET
6. ARE LYNX IN DANGER? The Iberian Lynx and its habitat are fully protected and are no longer legally hunted. Its critical status is mainly due to habitat loss, poisoning, road casualties, feral dogs and poaching. Its habitat loss is due mainly to infrastructure improvement, urban & resort development, tree monocultivation (pine, pseudotsuga, eucalyptus) which serves to break the lynx's distribution area. In addition, the lynx prey population of rabbits is also declining due to diseases like myxomatosis and hemorrhagic pneumonia
