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Oryx

Table of Contents - 2006 - Volume 40, Issue 03  


Short Communication

The ibex Capra pyrenaica returns to its former Portuguese range

Gisela Moço a1c1, Margarida Guerreiro a2, Ana Filipa Ferreira a2, António Rebelo a3, Armando Loureiro a3, Francisco Petrucci-Fonseca a2 and Jesús Ma Pérez a1
a1 Departamento de Biología Animal, Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Universidad de Jaén, Paraje Las Lagunillas, s.n. E-23071 Jaén, Spain
a2 Centro de Biologia Ambiental, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa - Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
a3 Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês/Instituto da Conservação da Natureza - Quinta das Parretas, Rodovia, 4700 Braga, Portugal

Article author query
moço g   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
guerreiro m   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
ferreira af   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
rebelo a   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
loureiro a   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
petrucci-fonseca f   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
pérez jm   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 

Abstract

The ibex Capra pyrenaica has recently recolonized its former Portuguese range from a contiguous Spanish protected area. The first observations of ibex in Portugal were in Peneda-Gerês National Park in 1998. In 2001 we began a survey to confirm ibex presence in Portuguese territory, and to determine the current status of the species there. There are three ibex nuclei in the general area of the international border, and they are expanding their geographical range with two of the nuclei almost restricted to Portuguese territory. In 2003 the ibex population consisted of a minimum of 75 individuals. Different founder histories have led to distinct age structures in each nucleus, but in general they exhibit the population dynamics typical of a recently reintroduced population with high reproductive potential. Priority conservation actions for this newly established population need to include increased monitoring, and reinforcement of the population with individuals from elsewhere. Effective conservation will require collaboration between staff of both Portuguese and Spanish protected areas and an integrated Spanish-Portuguese conservation plan.

(Published Online September 4 2006)
(Received December 9 2004)
(Revised May 11 2005)
(Accepted January 4 2006)


Key Words: Capra pyrenaica; ibex; Portugal; Red List; reintroduction; Spain.

Correspondence:
c1 Correspondence: Departamento de Biología Animal, Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Universidad de Jaén, Paraje Las Lagunillas, s.n. E-23071 Jaén, Spain. E-mail gmoco@sapo.pt

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