World’s first rare white Iberian lynx captured on camera in Spain’s wild mountains

A rare white Iberian lynx has been spotted in Spain’s Jaén mountains, marking a significant milestone in wildlife conservation. The pale, cream-coated feline is believed to be the first leucistic Iberian lynx ever recorded, displaying partial pigment loss rather than full albinism. Despite its unusual colouring, the lynx retains its sharp eyes and dark ear tufts, characteristic of the species. Experts and conservationists have hailed the sighting as proof of successful conservation initiatives that helped rescue the Iberian lynx from near extinction. Once numbering fewer than 100 in 2002, the population now exceeds 2,000, thanks to habitat restoration and breeding programmes making this rare white lynx a living symbol of nature’s resilience and recovery. The remarkable discovery was m