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The Highlands of Lorca have welcomed four new Iberian lynx kittens into the world, with conservationists confirming the birth of the latest litter from one of the Region of Murcia's most celebrated released females.

 

It's the third litter ever recorded from a female released in the Region of Murcia and the first confirmed so far this year under the European Life Lynxconnect project.

 

The proud mum is 'Urtsu', a female released in the area in 2024 from the Zarza de Granadilla Breeding Centre in Cáceres. The kittens are around two months old and both they and their mother are reported to be doing well, with technical teams keeping a close eye on the family through camera trapping, tracking and regular observation.

 

Urtsu is no stranger to making history either, having given birth to three cubs last year in what was the first ever recorded wild birth of the species in the community since the releases began.

 

Environment Minister Juan María Vázquez described the news as proof that the Highlands of Lorca have "all the conditions of food, shelter, tranquility and ecological connectivity necessary for the species to settle and expand with guarantees," and pointed out that the Region of Murcia has become an "essential corridor" in preventing the fragmentation of lynx populations across Europe.

 

"Every birth in the wild represents extraordinary news from an environmental and scientific point of view, but also a hope for continuing to recover part of our natural heritage," he added.

 

Finding a litter in the wild is no easy feat. Unlike in breeding centres, where conditions are controlled and monitored around the clock, locating kittens in their natural habitat requires painstaking fieldwork by environmental agents, and the fact that teams have been able to confirm the births and track the family's progress is a testament to the dedication of everyone involved.

 

The wider picture for the Iberian lynx is also looking increasingly positive. The 2026 breeding season at the two centres managed by the National Parks Autonomous Agency, El Acebuche in Huelva and Zarza de Granadilla in Cáceres, wrapped up with 31 cubs born across 12 litters, adding to a growing sense of cautious optimism about the future of one of Europe's most endangered wild cats.

 

Images: CARM