A rare Iberian lynx named Lithium has appeared in Barcelona after journeying more than 1,100 kilometres (680 miles) from southern Portugal, where it was released two years ago.

The young male lynx was last seen in the Guadiana Valley in the Algarve in 2016, just days after his release into the wild as part of a project to save the endangered species. The GPS signal from a device on his collar then disappeared, and for two years, his whereabouts were unknown.

He has now become the first Iberian lynx seen in Catalonia for more than a hundred years, after conservation officials tracked him down to a wooded area in Barcelona following reports of sightings.

To avoid attracting curious crowds, authorities have declined to release details of his location.

Conservation officials released pictures of the lynx lounging under the shade of a tree, apparently in good health and unfazed by his surroundings.

They are now working with experts from IberLince, the EU-funded rehabilitation programme, on a plan to capture Lithium as he is “in an unsuitable location to guarantee his security”, close to roads and urban centres.