Do captive-bred lynxes adapt to the wild?

There are already more than 2,000 Iberian lynxes in the wild between Spain and Portugal, and the species has recently gone from being in danger of extinction to being classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), a category that, although worrying, is not as much as the previous one. However, a doubt has been circulating among those responsible for this reintroduction of the Iberian lynx: do lynxes bred in captivity adapt to the natural environment?

Now, an international study in which the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM) in Spain participated, in collaboration with the LIFE LynxConnect project, reveals that Iberian lynxes bred in captivity establish themselves in their new populations in a similar way to those born in the wild, which reflects the success of the reintroduction programme.

The study also provides new details on how the reintroduction programme has been key to achieving conservation success.

The progress achieved with this study (which involved the participation of researchers from the Centre for the Conservation of Biodiversity and Sustainable Development (CBDS) of the UPM) has been possible thanks to the monitoring of more than 160 lynxes equipped with GPS devices, which has allowed scientists to find out how these felines adapt to the natural environment. The data has revealed movement and settlement patterns that are crucial to ensure their integration into their new habitats.

In the past, other attempts to reintroduce captive-bred species have not always been successful, as these animals tended to get too close to humans and engage in life-threatening behaviour in the wild. Breeding centres have therefore taken steps to better prepare the lynxes for life in the wild. Now, for the first time, the new study confirms that captive-bred lynxes behave very similarly to their wild counterparts once reintroduced, establishing stable territories and adapting well to their new surroundings.

However, the study also points to some differences. According to the monitoring carried out, sub-adult lynxes born in captivity, for example, did not immediately show the patterns of territorial organisation typical of the species, where males dominate larger territories than females. In addition, these lynxes tended to be more cautious and move more slowly, probably due to their lack of experience in the natural environment. Over time, however, the captive-bred lynxes began to show more natural behaviours, highlighting the need for continued monitoring after release to ensure their adaptation and to adjust reintroduction strategies when necessary.

Iberian lynx reintroduced in the Sierra Arana population, in Granada, Spain. (Photo: Pablo Cisneros / UPM)

An interesting aspect that has also been observed in this work is the dispersive behaviour observed in some lynxes, especially those born in captivity such as Kahn, Kentaro, Litio and more recently Troncho, which have demonstrated a remarkable ability to travel long distances, in some cases up to 930 kilometres from their point of release. These movements are not only essential for colonising new areas, but also help to connect distant populations and improve genetic diversity, a crucial factor for the long-term survival of the species.

In summary, says Pablo Cisneros, a UPM researcher who participated in the work: “the results of the study underline the importance of lynxes born in captivity in conservation efforts. Although they present some initial differences compared to wild lynxes, their contribution to population growth and the recovery of the species is indisputable.”

The study is titled “Born to be wild: Captive-born and wild Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) reveal space-use similarities when reintroduced for species conservation concerns”. It has been published in the academic journal Biological Conservation. (Source: UPM)