The Ministry of Environment and Sustainability has reported the location of the vast majority of Iberian lynx specimens that were released into the wild due to a significant forest fire in Santa Elena, Jaén. The fire, which threatened the vicinity of the La Olivilla breeding center, necessitated the evacuation of both staff and the 46 lynxes housed there.
Given the impossibility of immediate capture for safe transfer, the animal release protocol was activated. This protocol involves opening enclosures to allow the animals to seek refuge in safe areas of the surrounding environment, depending on the fire's direction.
Once the fire was stabilized and the Emergency Plan deactivated, a capture operation was launched. Throughout yesterday, 42 out of the 46 lynxes were successfully located. The Ministry is confident in finding the remaining four specimens as soon as possible for their return to the breeding facility.
This incident is reminiscent of a similar event in July 2017, when a forest fire at the El Acebuche Breeding Center in Doñana also led to the release of its specimens into the wild, who were subsequently recaptured successfully.
