Lynx Give Birth in Palencia, Spain

Why this is here: After a year since the start of the reintroduction project, the first births occurred with the first released female, Virgo, delivering three cubs.

In Palencia, Spain, the regional government reports five Iberian lynx cubs were born to two reintroduced females. The lynx, named Virgo and Valeriana, birthed three and two cubs respectively. These are the first lynx births in the northern half of Spain in decades.

Virgo, released in February 2025 from a breeding center in Doñana National Park, paired with a male named Villano. Valeriana, from a breeding center in Portugal, partnered with Vendaval, a lynx translocated from Castilla-La Mancha. Environmental officials confirmed the births via telemetry during the last week of March and first week of April, estimating the cubs are now about six weeks old.

The regional government invested roughly 2 million euros in habitat improvements and preventative measures against road accidents. They also plan to launch an environmental education program in local schools. While this initial success is promising, officials acknowledge continued monitoring is needed to assess long-term population viability.