Iberian Lynx May Be Extinct Due To Climate Change In 50 Years

The Iberian lynx is in grave danger due to global warming, scientists warn.

Global warming has been responsible for many species' extinction. Now, scientists are pointing to one animal in particular danger is the Iberian lynx.

The Iberian lynx may be driven to extinction within 50 years, despite conservationists' efforts to conserve their population.

A new study indicates that, "Climate change could lead to a rapid and severe decrease in lynx abundance in coming decades, and probably lead to its extinction in the wild within 50 years," lead author Dr Damien Fordham of the University of Adelaide's Environment Institute wrote.

"Current management efforts could be futile if they don't take into account the combined effects of climate change, land use and prey abundance on population dynamics of the Iberian lynx," he added.

The Iberian Lynx is from the Iberian Peninsula in Southern Europe and, sadly, it is

the world's most endangered cat species.

This is largely because it is difficult to maintain their diet and find food. Their main prey, the "European Rabbit", has also disappeared. Habitat destruction also impacted the downfall of the lynx.

Captive breeding programs have helped improve the lynx numbers-there are 309 Iberian lynx living in the wild in Andalusia.  But this may not be enough to rescue them from extinction, and scientists warn that the impact of climate change should be studied.

"Models used to investigate how climate change will affect biodiversity have so far been unable to capture the dynamic and complex feedbacks of species interactions," says Dr Miguel Araujo, Spanish Research Council (CSIC) Senior Researcher at the National Museum of Natural Sciences in Madrid.

However, he says, it's not too late."By developing new forecasting methods, we have managed, for the first time, to simulate demographic responses of lynx to spatial patterns of rabbit abundance conditioned by disease, climate change, and land use modification."

In other words, the lynx's natural habitat will likely become totally inhospitable by the middle of the century. Reintroduction plans will require higher altitudes and latitudes due to global warming. Thus, conservation effects must be used on different geographic territories.

Thus far, 130 million dollars have been spent to date attempting to protect the Iberian lynxes remaining in the wild. However, it's not too late.

"The only two populations currently present, will not be able to spread out or adapt to the changes in time" he added. "Fortunately, it is not too late to improve the outlook for the endangered lynx, if the management plans begin to take account of climate change."