One of the first seven Iberian lynx released into the wild near the Guadalmellato River, in Córdoba, has died of starvation after one of her legs became caught in a hunting trap

One of the first seven Iberian lynx released into the wild near the Guadalmellato River, in Córdoba, has died of starvation after one of her legs became caught in a hunting trap, preventing her from hunting for prey.

She was released in the area in December 2009.

The Junta de Andalucía’s environment department said in a press release on Tuesday that the animal was found dead near Villafranca de Córdoba after technicians monitoring the four year old female found the signal from her collar indicated that she was stationary.

It’s understood that the Junta, with the help of the Seprona nature protection branch of the Civil Guard, have stepped up their inspections to comb the threatened species’ habitat for illegal snares and traps.

Five lynx from the Andújar-Cardeña population – three males and two females - are to be released in the Córdoba area in the next few weeks.