Current estimates suggest there are around 354 lynxes in Portugal, compared to between 190 and 390 wolves. Across the Iberian Peninsula, the figures are similarly close – about 2,400 lynxes and 2,500 wolves. This shift reflects contrasting population trends: while lynx numbers are rapidly increasing due to targeted conservation efforts, the Iberian wolf continues to decline.

The most recent national wolf census, published in December 2024, used data collected between 2021 and 2022 – the first update since the previous study in 2002-2003. In contrast, the lynx population is monitored annually on both sides of the border through cross-border projects involving captive breeding, habitat reintroduction, community engagement and sustainable EU funding.

Credits: Supplied Image; Author: Staffan Widstrand;

Pedro Prata, team leader at Rewilding Portugal, attributes the lynx’s recovery to a coordinated effort involving public bodies, NGOs, and international donors. Meanwhile, despite being legally protected since 1988, the Iberian wolf faces ongoing challenges: the lack of an effective national conservation plan, limited support for livestock farmers, and illegal persecution.

Conservationists see this potential reversal in population trends as a telling sign of the differing conservation priorities in Portugal. The continued decline of the Iberian wolf in Portugal could disrupt natural ecosystems, possibly leading to rising numbers of wild boar and other ungulates, with knock-on effects for agriculture and biodiversity.

Rewilding Portugal is calling for urgent, dedicated measures for the wolf –similar to those that have benefited the lynx– focused on fostering sustainable coexistence between predators and human communities.