World’s first white Iberian lynx spotted in Spain stuns experts, internet calls it ‘conservation done right’

A Spanish wildlife photographer has recorded a vision few thought existent: a white Iberian lynx. The elusive wildcat, near legendary in proportions, has astounded scientists and wildlife enthusiasts globally.

Why is this lynx so rare?
The lynx's ghostly white coat is due to leucism, a hereditary condition that defoliates pigmentation from the coat but not from the eyes. As opposed to albinism, leucism permits normal eye colour, providing the lynx with a ghostly but regal appearance. The majority of Iberian lynxes possess tawny or beige coats with dark spots, so this pale specimen is an exceptional one.

It is smaller than its Eurasian relative, with long legs, a short tail, and characteristic black ear tufts, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The white-coated lynx stands out dramatically from its usual spotted relatives, but that beauty comes with a cost. Conservationists note that its light fur offers poor camouflage in the wild, making survival more challenging.

How did this rare cat survive?
The discovery is seen as a sign of success in Spain’s long battle to save the Iberian lynx from extinction. In 2002, fewer than 100 individuals remained, split between two isolated breeding populations.  Through collaborative actions by the Spanish government, NGOs, and European Union-funded Life Projects, the species has recovered. In 2015, 404 adult lynxes had been counted, and the population now numbers around 2,000.

The sighting of a leucistic lynx is also an indicator of nature's unexpectedness and the triumph of decades of conservation efforts. People online welcomed the discovery as a testament to resilience and a reminder of why wildlife protection is important.