Andalucía
Three more Iberian Lynx kittens born in captivity
By m.p.
Mar 24, 2008 - 6:03 PM

Saliega, who was the first Iberian Lynx to give birth in captivity three years ago, gave birth to three more kittens this weekend, who were born in the El Acebuche captive breeding centre in the Doñana Nature Park in Huelva. They were born at 64 days gestation on Saturday, but one of the young was rejected by the mother, and was reported by the Junta de Andalucía’s environment department on Monday to have died.

There were two more births last week, to Brisa, the first lynx born in captivity to become pregnant. One was born dead and the surviving kitten was ignored by the mother and is now in a critical condition. It is said to be suffering hypothermia and breathing problems and is being cared for by staff at the centre.

Another seven lynx have copulated this season as part of the recovery programme for the threatened species at the Olivilla centre in Jaén, at Jerez Zoo and in El Acebuche itself. Three new captive breeding centres are currently under construction in Córdoba, Extremadura, and in Silves, on the Portuguese Algarve.