The rise of the Iberian lynx population in Portugal

In the past decade, successful conservation efforts concerning the Iberian lynx, including rewilding, recovery of key prey species, and wildlife corridors, have allowed the status of the species to go from Endangered to Vulnerable. Captive breeding programs in Portugal have been key to increasing the number of Iberian lynxes, leading to the species’ expansion across the Iberian Peninsula. In Portugal, the population has risen to around 300 individuals in 2024, up from near extinction 15 years before. 

 The Iberian lynx population in Portugal lives almost exclusively in the Vale do Guadiana Natural Park of the Algarve. This region is shown in this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image, acquired on 29 December 2024. 

The Copernicus Sentinel satellites deliver essential data on important ecosystems around the world, providing key insights on their status to support conservation efforts.