The Iberian lynx was the world most endangered felid in 2002 with only 94 individuals. An intensive recovery program has increased the population to over 1,100.
Iberian lynx conservation welfare encompasses both wild and captive populations. Captive breeding for reintroduction requires careful management of individual welfare alongside genetic diversity goals. Animals selected for reintroduction must be conditioned to avoid humans and maintain wild hunting skills — a training process that balances welfare with release preparation. Wild reintroduced animals face adaptation challenges including territory establishment, hunting success, and exposure to road traffic. Monitoring of reintroduced individuals using radio collars and camera traps enables rapid welfare intervention when problems are detected. The rabbit prey dependency creates a welfare vulnerability — periods of low rabbit availability cause nutritional stress and reproductive failure in lynx populations dependent on this single prey species.