Car-azy: World’s most endangered cat species faces fresh threat

The world’s most endangered feline species, the Iberian lynx, is making a comeback in Spain after being pushed to the brink of extinction. But the costly efforts to reintroduce the spotted cat into the wild face an unexpected enemy – cars. The number of lynx killed by collisions with vehicles has soared since Spain’s economic crisis began in 2008. Last year a record 22 lynxes died after being hit by cars, up from just two in 2008.

It’s revolting because it’s a problem that could easily be fixed. With the excuse of the economic crisis, we have not even carried out the most basic road maintenance works.

Ramon Perez de Ayala, species program director at the WWF in Spain.

Cars are “the greatest threat for the future of the lynx”, according to the WWF, the World Wide Fund for Nature. Ramon Perez de Ayala, species program director at the WWF in Spain estimated it would cost around six million euros ($6.5 million) to make roads safer for lynxes by clearing roadsides of brush, putting up barriers and setting up passages that allow the felines to safely cross roads. The rise in lynx road deaths comes as efforts to boost lynx numbers through breeding programmes are starting to pay off. Lynx numbers dropped from 100,000 at the beginning of the 20th century to less than 100 in 2002, leading the International Union for Conservation of Nature to list the animal as “critically endangered”.

The Iberian lynx is the only feline classified in the highest category of risk of extinction.

Catherine Numa of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.