It can run at a top speed of 50 miles per hour and jump a distance of over seven metres: the Iberian Lynx is an Olympian of a wildcat endemic to the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe. Sadly, their population has declined dramatically in recent decades, making the Iberian Lynx now the world’s second most endangered species.

Like other wildcats, this lynx species has ear tufts that are used to filter sound directly into their ears, enhancing their sense of sound for hunting prey in the wild. Since their favourite food is rabbits, the Iberian lynx has been known to synchronise its sleeping pattern with their prey. In summer, they are nocturnal and crepuscular, and in winter, they are active during the daylight hours.