The Minister for the Environment displayed his public relations finesse on hearing of the death of one of the lynx bred for repopulating Portugal and Spain's wilderness, commenting that 'these things happen.'
Kayakweru, a female Iberian Lynx born and raised in Silves and released in early February, has been found dead in the Mértola region, causes unknown, according to the Institute of Nature and Forest Conservation.
Kempo, a male lynx was released at the same time, is unaccounted for but hopefully well.
Reacting to upset from animal lovers across the nation, Minister Jorge Moreira da Silva said "It's an event we obviously regret, but it’s normal in these lynx reintroduction programmes," adding that the reintroduction of the species into the wild "is not a risk-free option."
The Institute informed concerned enquirers via its website that the cause or causes of death are as yet unknown, but an investigation at the national veterinary institute has been ordered to determine how Kayakweru met her end.
The Minister of the Environment noted that reintroducing the species has its risks, "We have to prepare for fatalities like this," and helpfully added that the animal had not been run over.
One possibility is that lynx died of starvation. The local rabbit population has been devastated by viral haemorrhagic disease and nature organisations claim that the lynx release programme may have been rushed despite their warnings of an inadequate food supply.
The lynx programme has been subject to political interference as those with an eye for the media have delighted in being photographed at the breeding centre near Silves handling a photogenic endangered species, preferably a young one.
If the releases have been authorised too soon in the face of food supply concerns, the minister may be back in the media sooner than he expected.
