More lynx

The Iberian lynx is the most endangered feline species in the world and one of Europe's most beautiful predators. Visit soslynx.org for information and some impossibly cute pictures of cubs from the Spanish breeding programmes.

You can donate on the site if you're inclined, or buy a t-shirt or something, but it might be more constructive to bring your pet rabbits on holiday to Spain and leave them here. The dearth of rabbits since the disastrous arrival of myxamatosis in 1953 (then the haemorrhaegic virus in the 80s) seems to be the main threat to the lynxes. Although they will eat the odd bird if they get a chance, they're essentially rabbit-dependent. Spain has been famous for rabbits since Classical times, and the Iberian lynx (as distinct from the closely related and far more widespread Eurasian species) may only have evolved and survived because of them. Of course rabbits breed like rabbits, but they've yet to recover their numbers, despite the efforts of conservationists and hunting clubs. Now Spanish scientists have developed a combined vaccine that could bring rabbit populations back up to historic levels in no time if it works - it's still undergoing tests. (When I read this I wondered how they were going to catch the little fellows to inject them all, but apparently once the vaccine is injected into a few rabbits, they pass it on to their pals. It's that breeding thing again, no doubt....). Anyway, if the rabbits bounce back, it'll solve the lynx's problems, mostly. They'll still need to learn how to cross the road without being run over, though.

Coming to this blog soon and insensitively, at least one traditional Alpujarran recipe for rabbit. Meanwhile, here's another lynx picture.