The birth of two cubs of Esperanza, a five-year-old first-time female from Doñana, took place at the El Acebuche Captive Breeding Center, in the Doñana National Park, where the program launched by the Ministry of the Environment and the Junta de Andalucía to prevent the extinction of the Iberian lynx is being developed. the most endangered carnivore on the planet.

Esperanza’s maternal behavior has been exemplary from the moment of delivery. While she groomed and nursed the first puppy, she gave birth to a second, whom she quickly attended to and provided care. A whole madrassa that has been able to live up to its name by providing a large dose of hope for the recovery of the Iberian Lynx population.

Coming from a litter of four cubs, it is estimated that Esperanza was five days old when she was picked up in March 2001 in Doñana, in a very precarious state of health. She was bottle-fed at the Jerez Zoo, where she received all the attention and care of its professionals. In these years he never had contact with other conspecifics. In 2001, at 5 months old, she was transferred to the “El Acebuche” Breeding Center (CCEA). During the 2005 breeding season he teamed up with Hook, a male from Sierra Morena, with whom he copulated repeatedly, although without positive results. In both seasons, she was diagnosed with a pseudopregnancy or psychological pregnancy, a relatively frequent phenomenon in felines.