Rare White Iberian Lynx Spotted in Southern Spain

In a remarkable discovery, a white Iberian lynx was recently spotted and filmed in a forest near Jaen, in southern Spain. The sighting of this unusually pale wildcat, one of Europe’s rarest species, has drawn widespread attention and prompted scientists to investigate what may have caused the change in its appearance.

The lynx, a female named Satureja, was born in 2021 with a typical brown and spotted coat. However, her fur has gradually turned white — a rare transformation never documented before in this species. Despite her unusual coloring, she continues to live and hunt successfully in the wild, raising several litters of young along the way.

The footage that brought her to global attention was captured by amateur wildlife photographer Angel Hidalgo. After months of patient searching, Hidalgo finally managed to photograph the lynx just after sunrise on a rainy morning. His images quickly spread across national and international media, marking what experts believe to be the first confirmed video of a white Iberian lynx in the wild.

Photographer’s persistence leads to rare wildlife moment

Hidalgo’s encounter with the lynx came after months of dedication. He had first caught a glimpse of the animal through a motion-activated camera trap. That brief footage led him to return to the area repeatedly, hoping for a clearer sighting.

Describing the moment, Hidalgo said he was stunned when the lynx finally appeared in front of his camera. With its pale fur and bright eyes, the lynx stood out sharply against the forest background.

His photographs reached wildlife experts, who quickly identified the lynx as Satureja, an animal being tracked as part of a conservation program. Javier Salcedo, who coordinates the EU-funded LIFE Lynx-Connect project, confirmed the lynx’s identity and explained that her changing coat color remains a mystery.

Salcedo noted that Satureja showed no signs of common pigment-related conditions such as albinism or leucism. Researchers are now studying whether environmental factors might have influenced the change. Another lynx in the same region reportedly experienced a temporary change in coat color, raising further questions about the causes behind these unusual shifts.

Conservationists plan to study lynx’s changing appearance

Officials from the regional government in Andalusia plan to temporarily capture Satureja to collect biological samples. These tests may help researchers learn more about what led to her rare white coat.

The sighting comes at a hopeful time for the Iberian lynx population. Once critically endangered, the species has seen a steady comeback in recent decades thanks to conservation efforts in Spain and Portugal. In 2024, the International Union for Conservation of Nature reclassified the Iberian lynx from endangered to vulnerable.

Experts say the appearance of a white lynx is not only a rare genetic or environmental event, but also a symbol of how much the species has recovered. With more individuals thriving in the wild, the chances of observing unique variations like Satureja are increasing.