Iberian Lynx Playtime

Kittens gotta kitten, no matter the cat species

In today’s gif we’ve got Iberian lynx kittens doing what kitties do. Julian Terreros-Martin captured the action in his capacity as wildlife photographer and tour guide during a trip through Spain. Those kitties will have just a quick tussle with the sibling before tail-hugs with mamma. Enough of that silliness, they are serious hunters on the lookout! Rabbits make up over 90% of the Iberian lynx’s diet, so one has to stay vigilant and ready to chase new meals before they speed off.

Iberian lynx are an endangered species success story. An animal only found only in Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe, they had been hunted to near extinction at the turn of the millennia, with only ninety-four remaining in the wild in 2002. Focused conservation initiatives have helped the species rebound, with over two thousand Iberian lynx counted in a 2023 survey, augmented by captive breeding and release. That success, however, is not free of controversy and is currently facing setbacks.

Just this year, farmers and hunters have pressured several regional Spanish governmental administrations to curtail the continued reintroduction of lynx into the wild, citing concerns for livestock and citing fears that eco-tourism for lynx enthusiasts will destroy their way of life. Supporters of lynx reintroduction counter that many of these arguments are speciously driven by right-wing agitation, particularly since wildlife attacks by lynx are almost non-existent and that their presence helps keep the rabbit population from exploding. Unfortunately, the Catalan government has this year lifted restrictions and again will allow farmers to exterminate rabbits with pesticides rather than accede to further lynx reintroduction into the area. For now, the fight continues; environmentalists vow to continue the battle to protect and grow lynx populations and minimize unnecessary poison use.

Terreros-Martin was interviewed in the “View Finders Photography Podcast” as a rising star in the wildlife photography industry. You can learn more about him and his process here:

The source for today’s gif comes from Terreros-Martin’s Instagram page:

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A post shared by @julian_terrerosmartin

Wikipedia: Iberian lynx

The Guardian: "'Spain’s rewilding of Iberian lynx at risk after lobbying by hunters and farmers" by Stephen Burgen, 3/3/25

The Guardian: "Iberian lynx no longer endangered after numbers improve in Spain and Portugal" by Sam Jones, 1/20/24