The Iberian lynx preys foremost on the European rabbit (Oryctolagus

cuniculus) for the bulk of its diet, supplemented by red-legged

partridge, rodents and to a smaller degree also on
wild ungulates. [14][15][16] It sometimes preys on young fallow deer, roe
deer, mouflon, and ducks.[17] A male requires one rabbit per day while
a female raising kittens will eat three per day.[18] The Iberian species
has low adaptability it continued to rely heavily on rabbits (75% of
its food intake) despite the latter's repeated population crashes due to
two diseases: myxomatosis, which spread to Iberia after a physician
intentionally introduced it in France in 1952, and rabbit haemorrhagic
disease beginning in 1988.[3] There were two major outbreaks of the
latter in 2011 and 2012.[19] Recovery has occurred in some areas in
2013, rabbit overpopulation was reported south of Crdoba, causing
damage to transport infrastructure and farms.[20]

The Iberian lynx species has declined by about 80% in the last 20
years. The cat was estimated to number 3,000 in 1960,[43] about 400
in 2000, less than 200 in 2002, and possibly as few as 100 in March
2005.[44]Doana National Park and the Sierra de Andjar, Jan had the
only known breeding populations until the 2007 discovery of a
previously unknown population of around 15 individuals in Castile-La
Mancha (central Spain).[45][46] In 2008, the Doana population was
assessed at 24 to 33, while the Sierra Morena group was believed to
number 67 to 190 adults. The total population was estimated to be 99
to 158 adults, including the La Mancha population. The Iberian lynx
was thus listed as Critically Endangered under C2a(i) on the IUCN
Redlist.[1]
Beginning in 2009, the Iberian lynx was reintroduced
into Guadalmellato, resulting in a population of 23 in 2013.[47]Since
2010, the species has also been released in
Guarrizas. [41][48] Discussions were held with the Ministry of
Environment on plans for releases in the Campanarios de Azaba area
near Salamanca.[49] In April 2013, it was reported that Andalusia's
total wild populationonly 94 in 2002had tripled to 309
individuals.[50][47] In July 2013, environmental groups confirmed the
presence of a wild-born litter in the Province of
Cceres (Extremadura). [51] A study published in July 2013 in Nature
Climate Change advised that reintroduction programs take place in
northern Iberia, suggesting that climate change would threaten rabbits
in the south.[42][52]
On 26 November 2014, 8 Iberian lynxes were released into Toledo,
Spain, one of them traveled near Madrid, the first time in 40 year