The Iberian lynx is one of the world’s rarest wild cats and one of Spain’s greatest conservation success stories.
It isn’t the only one. This landscape is also home to the southernmost bison herd in Europe, to eagles that nest here undisturbed, and to bees and wildflowers that most visitors never think to ask about. Each depends on the others, and each depends on the land being left to work the way it always has.
Long before we became the custodians of Finca El Encinarejo, this place was already doing that work. That history is one of the main reasons we fell in love with the finca and decided to make it our home.
One of Spain's greatest conservation success stories.
Iberian Lynx
When wild lynx numbers fell to fewer than 100 individuals in the early 2000s, the Sierra de Andújar became one of the last strongholds for the species. Today, we are proud to continue working alongside
CBD Habitat, an organisation that has been dedicated to the conservation and recovery of the Iberian lynx for more than two decades.
Home to the southernmost population of European bison in Europe.
European Bison
Finca El Encinarejo is home to the southernmost population of European bison in Europe.
In 2020, eighteen European bison arrived at the finca as part of a privately funded conservation initiative, funded by Finca El Encinarejo itself.
Conservation begins with the land.
Habitat Management
At Finca El Encinarejo, conservation begins with the land.
The finca is managed by a family with generations of experience in farming, wildlife management, game ranching, conservation, and life on the land, with a simple philosophy: keep nature as it should be.
European Bison Conservation
Finca El Encinarejo is home to the southernmost population of European bison in Europe.
In 2020, eighteen European bison arrived at the finca as part of a privately funded conservation initiative. For our family, this project has always been deeply personal. It is funded by Finca El Encinarejo as part of our long-term commitment to conservation, wildlife management, and the future of the landscape we now call home.
The arrival of the herd was documented on film, capturing the moment European bison were released into the Sierra de Andújar landscape.
Scientific research carried out at Finca El Encinarejo by the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and the Spanish National Research Council has studied how European bison, red deer, and fallow deer use the same Mediterranean landscape.
The bison are monitored through regular health assessments, behavioural observations, habitat studies, GPS tracking, and camera trap monitoring.
Bees and pollinators
Birds of prey and birdlife
The skies above Finca El Encinarejo are part of the life of the reserve.
From Spanish imperial eagles and golden eagles to vultures, owls, bee-eaters, hoopoes, partridges, and countless smaller birds, the finca supports a rich variety of birdlife throughout the year.
The property is home to naturally breeding eagles, and we work with specialist guidance to ensure that their nesting areas and behaviour are respected. These birds are not managed or bred by us. They belong to the landscape.