Threats

Habitat Fragmentation and Degradation:

The Lynx requires large territories for hunting and breeding. The females need 9.5km^2 while the males need up to 18.2km^2 (“Iberian Lynx”, 2020). Due to human development such as roads, dams, and agriculture, their ecosystem has fragmented and decreased the amount of land available. The roads split up the lynx's territory fragmenting it. Humans are putting profit before ethical values of protecting our earth and all its inhabitants (“The Big Cat”, n.d.).

Loss of Food Source:

European rabbits, the lynx’s main source of food, have been over hunted and many have been killed off by the myxomatosis disease (“International Society”, 2020). This has decreased the amount of food available to the lynx and therefore affecting the total population.

Interference with Human Activities:

The Lynx have been hunted by humans for their valued fur and meat. Farmers also set traps for them to stop them from killing their animals for food. In the 1970’s it became illegal to hunt them, especially in the Doñana National Forest where most of them live, but some people continue to do so today (“Iberian Lynx - Threats”, n.d.).