Twenty years ago, there were only 62 Iberian lynxes left in the world. Today there are over 2,000. Once almost extinct, the Iberian lynx has made an astonishing comeback, from just 62 sexually mature animals in 2001 to over 2,000 today. Thanks to joint conservation efforts in Spain and Portugal, including habitat restoration, rabbit population enhancement and careful reintroduction, the species has been downgraded from "critically endangered" to "vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List. Today, about 86% of the population lives in Spain and over 400 lynxes have been reintroduced in restored habitats with a total area of over 3,000 square kilometers. Despite this success, conservationists emphasize that the fight is far from over. Climate change, and in particular the increase in forest fires in the Mediterranean region, remains a serious threat to the lynx's survival. Experts from the EU-funded Life Lynxconnect project stress the need for constant monitoring and adaptation. "We have come a long way, but we must not let up," said Ramón Pérez de Ayala of the WWF. Today, the Iberian lynx is not only considered a success story in nature conservation, but also a symbol of what sustainable commitment can do for the recovery of wildlife.
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