Conservation

The Iberian Lynx Went From 62 To 2,401 — The Greatest Cat Comeback Ever

Spain and Portugal pulled off the most successful cat-species recovery in conservation history.

By the NoBadNews desk · Published 2026-07-06 · Updated 2026-07-08

How many Iberian lynx are there now?

As of the 2024 census (released May 2025), there are 2,401 Iberian lynx in Spain and Portugal — up from just 62 breeding adults in 2001, per the IUCN.

The IUCN calls it the greatest recovery of any cat species ever achieved through conservation, and in June 2024 moved the lynx from Endangered to Vulnerable. 844 cubs were born in 2024 alone. It's still listed Vulnerable and depends on a fragile wild-rabbit food supply, so the work isn't finished.

Source: IUCN Red List · Image: AI illustration of real verified news (our method).

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