Save world's rarest cat

Save the world's most rare www.thebeijingnews.com of cat · 2007-11-4 9: 17: 41 ·

Source: Beijing News the Iberian lynx in the distribution area of the diagram. New Beijing cartographic/linjun Ming

In all the Chinese people are newly filmed the "wild South China Tiger photos" authenticity and excitement, the Earth to the other side of the Kingdom of Spain has sent a good message.

The world's most endangered big cats Iberian lynx (IberianLynx) perhaps not so miserable. Recently, in Spain a hidden places and found the bottom of a new species, at this point, the Iberian lynx population increased from two to three, the situation is slightly better.

The only cat extremely endangered species

Iberian lynx, which was full of round spot of cats already walked to the edge of the cliff of extinction, now, a new dawn of discovery to save on it again.

This discovery is the World Wide Fund for nature (WWF).

It has been confirmed by the local government. WWF staff in Spain in the middle of the card, tyre — autonomous region of La Mancha (CastileLaMancha) of a private territory were found in the new Iberian lynx population, the population of the exact number and distribution of location is not clear, but that the adult Lynx and Cubs, whereas the other two Iberian lynx population were scattered in Spain's southern landscape of beautiful Andalucia (Andalusia) in remote areas.

WWF in last Tuesday's News Conference announced the discovery.

Prior to this, the local newspaper has reported that the presence of cats, but also someone with a camera to take photos of it. Located in Madrid's WWF species project President Luis · su ' in an interview that the discovery was announced by the local Government of Spain, but prior to this, you may already have seen their local populations, but simply does not want to stand in front of the media.

Su hereby represen

ts, even with this newly discovered species, the Iberian lynx is also currently a total of only 100 to 150 only. International Union for the protection of the classified as "extremely endangered species", that is, the Iberian lynx in the wild are faced with extremely high risk of extinction.

In fact, in numerous feline species, only three have entered the "extremely endangered," the classification.

At that time and the Iberian lynx with column one seat is Russia's far eastern Leopard (Amurleopard) and the West Japan the Bobcats (Iriomotecat) table. However, subsequent animal taxonomy scientists discovered that these two species in fact however is that the cat was going Leopard and subspecies. In this way, the Iberian lynx is a cat only an extremely endangered species.

Face like a cat, such as Leopard

Iberian lynx Lynx, also called Spain, it is internationally recognized for the number of medium-sized cat.

In the past, people have mistaken the Iberian lynx is classified to "Lynx (or in the case of the Eurasian Lynx, Eurasianlynx)", but now it is "Lynx" and "Canada Lynx is (Canadanlynx)" another parallel is "genera Iberian lynx (Iberianlynx)". In Spain, it was also the Iberian lynx is called "GatoMontes", that is, the Wildcats.

And the North of the Iberian lynx Lynx compared relative body smaller.

Male-female ratio of Iberian lynx, Iberian lynx is usually male Iberian lynx shoulder width 70 cm, height approx. 1 m, 15 cm long tail. Adult male Iberian lynx weight up to 13 kg, 1 m high, the female is a light on the dwarf.

Iberian lynx long legs short tail, face a circle beads like hair.

Ears, there are black. And mark Dim compared to the Eurasian Lynx, it was a very obvious spots, light grey or light brown, do not look, the Iberian lynx is more like the Leopard look. However, it is the face of more than other Lynx more like cats.

In General, the Iberian

lynx hunt small mammals, birds, small reptiles and amphibians are its food, the Hare is their "staple", covers the 80% of the total amount of food. Male Iberian lynx daily to eat a Hare. With the reduction in the number of Spain Hare, Iberian lynx now also have to begin to hunt deer, roe deer young male of other animals. And the Iberian lynx competitive rival red foxes, cats, etc.

Iberian lynx has the same "Leopard", they are usually the eyes can see 75 metres of the mice, 300 meters away of the rabbit, and 500 metres of the roe deer.

Its ears of Plexus hair can help it detect various sound sources, on hearing has played a critical role. While its claws on long and thick hair, enabling it to quietly attacked the enemy.

In the past, the Iberian lynx throughout the entire Iberian Peninsula.

But now, it's distribution area has reduced a lot. Previously, only two places in Andalusia found Iberian lynx signs of multiply. Iberian lynx liked form different habitats, with thick bushes and trees, oak, etc.

The Iberian lynx is the world's most threatened by extinction, but also of the cat family is Europe's most endangered carnivore.

According to the World Conservation Union investigation of 1990, the Iberian lynx is likely to become extinct in 2011. A 2000-year survey found that only the Iberian lynx, only 400 in 2005, this figure had fallen to around 100 only.

New protection base

Paul ·

Feira to Spain is a specialized study of Iberian lynx in ecological experts. He said that because of the Iberian lynx and ecological diversity of genes, so it became a leading animal protection object. "If the Iberian lynx in the near future. It is nearly 1 million years to the cat disappeared in only one variety of. "He slightly regretted.

And Andaluz has found Iberian lynx, CASS tyre-La Mancha region found Iberian lynx more isolation, their genes and species are also found

previously. Su's view, such a gene diversity on the Iberian lynx population of maintaining and expanding a lot of good.

However, the shelter is located in remote areas can cause problems, because the population is relatively isolated, they and the other hybrid between species is not so much so that they are appropriate in the breeding population.

While the growth of the population, the more the next generation are also relatively more vulnerable, they most likely has a birth defect, resist disease more weakly.

"If they have other populations of in vivo genetic characteristics, you can better help them survive.

" Su says, but this requires researchers to help them and between different populations, enhance the Iberian lynx hybrid genetic diversity.

Feira Josse is on the discovery holding very cautious attitude.

He warned: Cass tyre-La Mancha region found Iberian lynx could only live in Andalucia region's largest Iberian lynx population Andujar of an extension. He also said that, most likely some Andujar population individual came from Andalucia region, tyre-La Mancha, and settled down there, the offspring.

However, Paul ·

Feira Josse was also mentioned that even so, from protection of sense and this is good news, but if the Iberian lynx has more diverse mating, the better.

Historically, conservation experts have been hoping that Andalusia local Government can close a run through the Donana National Park Expressway.

This Park is home to the Iberian lynx population, and every year there are several only Iberian lynx in the highway was killed. In addition, the Iberian lynx Prime prey rabbit because of hunting and disease causes, over the past 50 years is reduced by 80%. Dam construction and agricultural development is equally threaten its survival. However, this proposal has not received a positive answer. Now, perhaps, tyre — La Mancha regions will become more easily protected areas.

Compilation: Jin Yu