Hobby photographer Ángel Hidalgo took this gorgeous shot of white Iberian lynx Satureja. This is the first time that such a rare lynx has been photographed in Jaén, Spain. This unusual creation of nature is covered by a brilliant white coat with dark aberrational spots scattered all over its body. It is markedly different from the typical brown, spotted, and black spotted colors of all of its species. The images of Satureja have garnered significant attention across Spain and beyond, marking a rare moment for wildlife enthusiasts and researchers alike.
Satureja is a female Iberian lynx, born in 2021. Scientists under the framework of the EU-funded LIFE Lynx-Connect project have been following her closely. According to the project’s coordinator Javier Salcedo, Satureja’s behavior hasn’t changed even though her coloring is as peculiar as it gets. She has been alternately filmed and tracked feeding successfully and raising up to six litters to reproductive maturity.
The brief footage they captured of Hidalgo highlights just how impressive Satureja’s glowing white winter coat really looks. Hidalgo shared his appreciation for having seen the lynx. When I saw a ‘white Iberian lynx’ for the first time, with its snow-white winter coat and bloodshot eyes, I was transported!” he gasped. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. “He refers to Satureja montana as the “white ghost of the Mediterranean forest.” This is indicative of the allure that any rare and unusual sighting brings.
Researchers have followed another female Iberian lynx from the same region, probably a relative of Satureja. They observed a similar transformation in her coat color—from white back to brown—raising questions about the genetic factors at play. Salcedo clarified, “It’s not albinism or leucism,” proposing an even more intriguing underlying cause for Satureja’s unusual looks. He further speculated that her condition may suggest the presence of a generalized hypersensitivity.
This return of Satureja comes alongside a dramatic recovery of the Iberian lynx’s fortunes – a global conservation success story. Once on the brink of extinction less than 25 years ago, the species has rebounded significantly due to conservation efforts. The International Union for Conservation of Nature recently hailed the Iberian lynx’s recovery as a “great success story.” This success was so significant that it prompted the group’s reevaluation of its status from “endangered” to “vulnerable” on the global red list of threatened species.
Scientists are continuing to study the reason behind Satureja’s unusual pigmentation. Her presence is an encouraging sign of the successful conservation efforts within Spain and Portugal, which makes her a thrilling addition to the world of wildlife research. Hidalgo’s mesmerizing shots only reinforce how important it is to protect our natural landscapes. They showcase the magic of the creatures that inhabit these special places.