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lberian Lynx Critically endangered cause of decline Habitat loss and degradation, as well as the disappearance of food resources (rabbits) are contributing to this declining trend. Conservation efforts WWF has contributed to Iberian lynx conservation through the creation and sponsorship of the Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe LCIE the decline accelerated after the 1950's due to the spread of myxomatosis http://www.animalinfo.org/species/carnivor/lynxpard.htm http://www.bigcatrescue.org/cats/wild/iberian_lynx.htm http://www.iberianature.com/material/iberianlynx.htm
 * Scientific Name:** Lynx pardinus
 * Location:** Southern Europe
 * Principal Threats:** The largest threat facing this Lynx is habitat destruction and the destruction of its prey base. The prey also suffered a major blow when an introduced disease – poxvirus myxomatosis – to which the European Hare had no natural immunity and was nearly decimated. By the time they started building a resistance to this disease and the numbers started to recover, a new disease –viral hemorrhagic pneumonia - took its place and killed a large number of adult rabbits. This cat also suffers at the hands of man, frequently being killed by traps and snares set for rabbits, and by being hit by cars as the number of roads increase. The Spanish Government is now in the process of developing a national conservation effort to save the Iberian Lynx.
 * Class:** Mammal
 * Order:** Carnivor
 * Family:** Felidae
 * Species:** pardina
 * Size and Appearance:** The Iberian Lynx is similar in its appearance to the Eurasian Lynx, but about half its size. Adult males weigh on the average 27.5 pounds and the females average 20. The fur is typically grayish, with tints varying from yellowish to rusty and is distinctly spotted.