The fatal collision of two Iberian lynxes (mother and son) on the N-323A, near La Cerradura, in Pegalajar (Jaén) has led Ecologistas en Acción to demand “urgent” measures from State Highways and the Environment to avoid new events of this type that affect a species classified as ‘Endangered’ by regional, national and European regulations.
In a statement, the environmental organization points out that the existing Iberian lynx population in the area, which so far has two breeding females, has formed spontaneously from dispersing specimens from the Sierra Morena population.
Currently, this population “results key” to connect the nuclei of the species that exists in the north of the province of Jaén and the reintroduction area in the north of Granada. For this reason, the Pegalajar lynx population is “strategic for the conservation of the species and the loss of these two specimens represents a serious setback in their conservation.”
As other lynx accidents have already occurred in the same area, Ecologists sees “absolutely necessary to apply urgent measures to avoid new accidents, which would also favor road safety on existing roads there.”
Specifically, as measures, vertical warning signs are advocated for the passage of Iberian lynx, as well as the placement of reflectors on side beacons along the road in the affected section. These are “two simple, inexpensive measures that, at least in the case of reflectors, have proven effective on other occasions.”
“The Administration hides behind the fact that there are more and more lynxes and that this is inevitable. Perhaps a hit-and-run is inevitable, but what cannot be allowed is that measures are not adopted to reduce the accident rate and avoid more losses of lynxes,” concludes the organization in its statement.
