The overall objective is to contribute to the recovery and enhancement of wild populations of European mink and thus prevent their extinction.

The overall objective is to contribute to the recovery and enhancement of wild populations of European mink and thus prevent their extinction.

Within the framework of the project, a new European mink breeding and study centre will be launched, which will become part of the National Captive Breeding Plan for the species.

In this way, it will collaborate in the maintenance of the genetic stock in the face of possible drastic decreases of the species in the wild. In addition, viable individuals will be bred from a genetic and behavioural point of view, capable of surviving in the natural environment, given the possibility of reintroductions.

To this end, in addition to captive reproduction, research and studies will be carried out aimed at increasing the survival success of those animals susceptible to being reintroduced into the environment, as well as increasing the limited knowledge of the species.

This knowledge will be useful in other centres, national and European, and will also be useful in the in situ conservation of the species, the ultimate goal of any ex situ conservation project.

The European mink (Mustela lutreola) is one of the most endangered species worldwide. There are only three populations left in the world, isolated from each other. One of them is located in northern Spain and southwestern France. As in the rest, their numbers continue to decrease drastically.

The specific objectives of the initiative include:

• Develop and carry out a breeding program based on the new knowledge that is available about the species, in order to achieve viable individuals from the genetic and behavioral point of view.
• Carry out ethological studies with captive specimens and pre-reintroduction training, based on the enhancement of hunting instincts and anti-predation training.
• Training, dissemination and awareness-raising tasks.

The new specimens may serve as parents within the National Ex situ Conservation Program, or be used for reintroductions into the natural environment.