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The latest figures from the Junta de Andalucía show a welcome drop in lynx deaths caused by traffic this year, although road accidents remain one of the biggest threats facing the species. A total of 57 Iberian lynx have been killed on the region’s roads so far in 2025, which is a noticeable improvement on last year’s peak of 78 fatalities. Officials described the reduction as “significant”, pointing to steady investment in wildlife crossings and other protective measures.

 

Behind the numbers is a much bigger picture. Andalucía now has 1,611 structures, from adapted drainage tunnels to purpose-built animal overpasses, designed to help the lynx move safely across busy routes. The government says these installations are “essential for improving ecological connectivity” in areas where roads cut through lynx territory. And there are plenty of those. According to the latest count, 2,694 kilometres of the region’s road network run through zones where lynx are present, most of them in areas with a stable population.

 

The ups and downs in roadkill figures do not always follow a simple pattern. As the Junta explains, the numbers tend to fluctuate depending on factors like fencing, traffic flow, land use and even pandemic-era mobility restrictions. The Ministry notes that “peaks and declines” are expected, especially as the species continues to occupy new areas. In 2020, for example, 58 road deaths were recorded from a population of 511. Numbers fell the following year, but later rose again as the lynx population expanded.

 

That growing range has been especially noticeable in recent months. Lynx have been seen returning to the Córdoba mountains for the first time in fifty years, and an exceptionally rare white Iberian lynx was photographed soon after in Andalucía, a striking example of how the species is re-establishing itself across the region. Together, these sightings complement the new data and reinforce the sense that the population is continuing its steady upward climb.

 

The long-term recovery has been a major conservation success story. When work began back in 2002, there were only around fifty lynx left, split between Doñana and Sierra Morena. Thanks to a series of LIFE projects, habitat restoration and an enormous collaborative effort with landowners, the species has rebounded to an estimated 836 individuals by 2024. New reintroduction areas have emerged, and more than 250,000 hectares have benefited from conservation action.

 

Traffic, however, remains a daily risk. Vehicle counts taken at 45 monitoring stations in lynx areas show anything from 98 to more than 32,000 cars passing each day. That figure can climb to over 90,000 vehicles on stretches crossing agricultural land. These numbers highlight just how many dangers the animals must navigate as their range continues to grow.

 

Even so, conservationists and regional officials remain cautiously optimistic. As one environment technician put it this week, “Every life lost is a setback, but the overall trend gives us hope.” The final census for 2025 will not be completed until mid 2026, but the message from Andalucía is clear. The Iberian lynx is still vulnerable, but thanks to sustained protection and investment, its future looks far brighter than it did twenty years ago.

 

 

Image: David Selbert/Pexels