Nottingham Guardian - Faia Brava Reserve Intensifies Rabbit Conservation to Save Iberian Lynx and Wildcat

Conservationists at the Faia Brava Natural Reserve in Portugal’s Côa Valley are intensifying efforts to restore rabbit populations, a foundational step in securing the future of apex predators such as the Iberian lynx and the rare wildcat. The initiative underscores a critical ecological reality: without a robust base of prey, predator populations cannot sustain themselves.

The reserve has deployed 12 artificial shelters, locally known as "marouços," during the spring season. These structures are engineered to compensate for habitat loss driven by agricultural abandonment and the degradation of natural environments. The intervention is part of a broader strategy that includes wetland renaturalization initiated in October and targeted seeding of cereals like rye and oats, alongside legumes such as vetch.

The urgency of these measures was highlighted in early 2025 when camera traps installed across the reserve captured images of the wildcat, one of Portugal’s rarest mammals. The monitoring campaign, which ran for over two months, involved a grid of approximately 60 cameras spaced 500 meters apart. Three distinct cameras recorded the animal at intervals of roughly ten days.

While definitive species confirmation typically requires genetic analysis of scat or hair samples—a difficult process in this terrain—researchers consider the visual evidence sufficient. João Carvalho, an investigator from the University of Aveiro and board member of Faia Brava, noted that the images display physical traits distinct from domestic cats: robust heads and paws, a bushy tail with clear rings, and a black dorsal stripe.

"If the shy wildcat is photographed again, above all, the record of this mysterious species would confirm the ecological value of this territory and region," Carvalho said. The location of the sightings, three to four kilometers from the nearest villages, further supports the identification, as no domestic cats were recorded by any of the 60 cameras during the monitoring period.

The wildcat is classified as Endangered in Portugal. Its populations are fragmented with poor connectivity between them. Threats include hybridization with domestic cats, transmission of parasitic diseases from feral cats, roadkill, intentional shooting, and the loss of Mediterranean woodland habitat.

To combat these pressures, the reserve’s strategy focuses on increasing prey availability. Ana Nunes, who has observed the narrowing focus on prey species over the association’s 26-year history, explained that maintaining predator populations requires a solid prey base. The team is creating landscape mosaics that balance dense scrub with open areas, as rabbits require habitats that are neither too thick nor too exposed.

The artificial shelters are constructed from cement to ensure better drainage than plastic, reducing internal humidity and the risk of disease. Each unit consists of four cement boxes linked by eight pipes sized for rabbit passage. Inside, two divisions include a protected chamber for breeding. The structures are buried and covered with soil, stones, mesh, and branches to deter predators.

The design specifically prevents foxes from digging deeper and stops stone martens from reaching kits due to misaligned holes. Branches provide cover against birds of prey. The technique was adopted based on successful implementations in Spanish farms, where it has supported high rabbit densities and the presence of Iberian lynx.

Camera traps are rotated every two to three weeks to avoid double-counting. Six of the monitored shelters have already recorded rabbit activity, indicating occupancy. Nunes estimates a minimum of three rabbits per shelter, though sex ratios remain undetermined.

The cameras also captured predators, primarily stone martens and foxes, which is expected. To protect the rabbits in these shelters, located just outside the strict protected perimeter, the association has requested that local hunters avoid the immediate area.

Monitoring occurs twice yearly, in March and late summer, through the analysis of latrines—accumulations of droppings used for territorial marking. This method confirmed three stable rabbit nuclei in the reserve, which have persisted for several years despite a significant population drop between 2019 and 2020. Nunes believes there are now "dozens" of rabbits in the protected area.

Looking ahead, the reserve plans to establish its own breeding nucleus for wild rabbits in a secure, enclosed area by 2027, contingent on funding. This facility would serve as a maternity ward, allowing the team to mark and control the release of rabbits into the marouços, rather than sourcing them from external breeders.

"One thing is buying from a breeder and releasing them. Another is having our own nucleus, where we feed our marouços and local populations," Nunes explained. The team intends to replicate the shelters in other parts of the reserve once funding is secured.

Nunes acknowledged criticism regarding artificial interventions but emphasized their necessity in the current context. "Many people say this is all artificial. Unfortunately, today in Portugal, without this we cannot manage well. And we have to be us, humans, to support this species a little," she said. The ultimate goal remains creating conditions for the wildcat and other species to find refuge, ensuring the survival of the region’s wildlife.

G.Lomasney--NG