European Lynx (Lynx lynx)

European Lynx

UK History

It was previously thought that lynx died out around 4,000 years ago due to climate change but new evidence indicates they lived at least to early medieval times (10th Century) and became extinct as a result of human activities - over-hunting and deforestation.

UK Status

Extinct in the wild.

Global Status

There are four lynx species in the world.

Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx): Siberia & Central Asia to Europe.
Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus): Iberia.
Canadian lynx (Lynx canadensis): Canada, Alaska, Rocky Mountains.
Bobcat (Lynx rufus): Canada to Mexico.

In the pre-breeding season (ie excluding kittens) there are less than 50,000 Eurasian lynx and less than 200 Iberian lynx. The populations of Canadian lynx and Bobcat are significantly higher but unconfirmed.

CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) lists the Eurasian lynx on Appendix II, ie the lynx is potentially endangered of dying out.

The Red Data Book, compiled by the World Conservation Union (IUCN), lists the European lynx as Near Threatened - because of degradation of their habitat and prey populations.

Biology

The Eurasian lynx is the largest felid in Europe and is about the size of a labrador dog. Most live in forest areas. Lynx tend be solitary and occupy a home range from about 45 to 800 sq km according to habitat quality and prey availability. There are usually 2-3 females in a male's home range.

Mating takes place between February to April with usually 2 -3 young born 10 weeks later. Young lynx live with their mother until about ten months old and then disperse. Most adults live around 4 - 5 years.

They are ambush hunters and feed principally on small ungulates (eg. roe deer and chamois) and hares and less commonly larger ungulates (eg. reindeer and red deer calves). They can also predate livestock (goats, sheep, poultry). An adult lynx eats on average 1-2 kg (2 to 4.5 lbs) of meat a day.

Issues with humans

Livestock predation is considered to be a minor problem compared with wolves and bears, although lynx will take sheep that are not guarded. This is most significant in Norway where sheep freely roam the forests and alpine-tundra during the summer - around 8,000 sheep (0.4% population) predated annually by lynx. Semi-domesticated reindeer are also extensively predated in Scandinavia. In areas where sheep graze in open pastures predation is uncommon.

In most European countries where depredation by lynx (and other predators) occurs, compensation schemes have been implemented to mitigate the conflict with livestock breeders.

In some countries hunters blame lynx for a reduction in the abundance of prey.

For centuries lynx have been hunted for their fur.

Future Outlook

Although increasing in some areas across it's range, the lynx is classified as "endangered". Habitat fragmentation, illegal killings and over-hunting are considered to be the main threats to its long term survival in Europe.

The lynx is listed on the European Union Habitats and Species Directive. This Directive, to which Britain is a party, is a convention which prompts member European states to study the desirability of reintroducing species that became extinct as a result of human activities.

Lynx have been reintroduced to Austria, Czech Republic, Slovenia and Switzerland. Efforts are being made to reintroduce lynx to the Voges Mountains in France, northern Germany and central Poland.

Changes in the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy to re-allocate subsidies for restoring natural landscapes make it more feasible that species like lynx may be reintroduced in the future.

Research presently being carried out suggests sufficient habitat and prey base for several hundred lynx in Scotland although there are no immediate plans for an official re-establishment programme.

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