Spanish Oddities
Brisa, Spanish Lynx born in captivity, gives birth to two kittens
By h.b.
Mar 23, 2008 - 8:22 AM

The first pregnancy of a Spanish Lynx born herself in captivity has ended in partial failure. The webpage of the El Acebuche centre in the Doñana Nature Park reports that Brisa, the first female lynx to be born in captivity in the centre in 2005, gave birth prematurely to two kittens on the 59th day of gestation.

One was born dead and after trying to revive it for a time, it was eaten by the mother. The second kitten was born eight hours later and was ignored by the mother who even knocked it away a distance of a metre at one point. The team at the El Acebuche centre intervened, but the kitten remains in a critical condition suffering from hypothermia and breathing problems.

Another eight lynx have copulated this season as part of the recovery program at the Olivilla centre in Jaén, Jerez Zoo, as well as at the El Acebuche centre.

In nature it is normal for the mother to lose about half of her kittens.