The Iberian lynx has just made what experts are calling the greatest recovery of any cat species in history. Twenty years ago, this tufted-eared wild cat was on the brink of extinction, with only a handful surviving in Spain and Portugal. Through unprecedented international collaboration, dedicated conservation teams worked tirelessly to protect habitat, reduce threats, and carefully rebuild populations across their native range.
The results have stunned the conservation world—the Iberian lynx has officially been removed from the endangered species list by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. What once seemed like an impossible task has become a shining example of what’s achievable when communities, scientists, and governments unite behind a common cause. This remarkable comeback proves that even species on the edge of extinction can recover with dedicated effort and smart conservation strategies. The lynx’s success story is inspiring conservationists worldwide and demonstrating that we have the tools to prevent extinctions when we commit to using them.