Project: Health monitoring and repopulation of the wild rabbit

The project aims to increase the population of wild rabbits in the mountains of Lugar Nuevo and Selladores-Contadero, in order to increase the key food resource of the Iberian lynx and aid its preservation and chances for survival in the wild.

The first phase of the project begins by analyzing and identifying the need to increase the populations of wild rabbits in these areas where the Iberian lynx is present. A large number of rabbits were collected, which were quarantined in facilities and later released into refuges and warrens built inside repopulation enclosures.
During quarantine, a comprehensive health monitoring process was carried out comprising serologic, genetic, parasitological and infection control, in order to prevent the release of animals with diseases or epidemics that could affect existing host populations, thus promoting its complete adaptation to the environment and reproduction.
The current phase encompasses repopulations in support of earlier efforts, in order to maintain a population density over time to meet the nutritional needs of the lynx and thus avoid its spread to other territories.
In addition, we conducted surveillance of the reintroduced populations, assessing their evolution in different areas, with the aim of planning further action.
Tragsatec has carried out these tasks since 2007.