🦁 Camera traps in Spain captured female Iberian lynxes deliberately dunking dead rabbits in water troughs — the first documented case of a wild carnivore soaking its prey.
The behavior was first recorded in August 2020 when a lynx named Naia was seen carrying a freshly killed rabbit to a water trough and submerging it for over a minute. Since then, 5 different females have been observed doing the same thing 8 times, always during the hot summer months in central Spain.
Experiments confirmed that a soaked rabbit carcass retains water for up to 40 minutes. Scientists believe the lynxes may be using the soaked meat to hydrate their cubs or ease the transition from milk to solid food. The behavior runs in family groups, suggesting these solitary cats can learn from each other.
