Posted on April, 22 2016

Kentaro, a young male lynx travelled more than 100 kilometres in central Spain crossing several motorways. This dangerous journey is no exception. In Spain, young lynx face death every day while attempting to move around their territory.
 
High-speed roads and highways splitting up the lynx habitat have caused more than 50 casualties in the last 3 years, which is a very high number compared to the total 404 lynx counted in 2015.
 
WWF raised the flag and encouraged political action and public awareness through an online petition in early 2014. This initiative received more than 15,000 responses in a few months. It showed how much people care about the lynx in Spain and how important this issue is in the region.

The Spanish national and regional authorities responded to that call. In some places, changes have been made. Fences were raised, the edges of the roads were cleared and speed limits were introduced. In other places bridges under and over the roads have been planned and black spots, were most run overs occur, have been identified.
 
As a consequence, in Andalucía, the region that hosts 90% of the lynx population, the number of feline killed by cars declined in 2015. “Not another Lynx run over by cars”, is the message of WWF campaign. Join it and protect other young lynx-like Kentaro to walk on a safer wild side to find love, food and a home.

What should be done to protect the lynx from road accidents?

• Eco bridges and fences should be build
• Edges of the roads need to be cleared.
• Black spots should be identified.
• Speed limits should be imposed.

 
This article was in produced by WWF April 2016