A: Preparatory Actions, Elaboration of Management Plans and/or Action Plans - Life lynx

A.1 Live-capture of Lynx in Slovakia

lynx — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 15:12:47 +0000

Assessment and Selection of Sites and Lynx for Live-capture from the Carpathian Source Population in Slovakia

The population of Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in the Carpathian Mountains is considered to be one of the best preserved and largest in Europe. It was the source of lynx for several reintroduction projects between the 1960s and 1990s. Although some of the re-established populations initially prospered, most of them have since stagnated or even declined and suffer from inbreeding. Reinforcement is therefore needed as a genetic remedy to assure their long-term viability.

Many of the translocated individuals came from Slovakia, which encompasses c. 17% of the Carpathians and is considered to be a source for reinforcements and further reintroductions. The removal of individuals, even for conservation purposes, requires adequate surveying of the source population. The goal of this action is to identify the most suitable areas and micro-locations for live-capture of animals in Slovakia to reinforce the Dinaric – SE Alpine lynx population. Results achieved in this action will help determine how many lynx can be removed from each area without compromising the population.

The overall lynx population in Slovakia is stable and is considered robust enough to support the removal of individuals for the reinforcement effort. However, lynx capturing is not an easy task because of their ecology, secretive behavior and low population density. Capture sites must be selected using experience and data gathered from camera trapping, telemetry and snow tracking. These data will help us identify the best micro-locations for capture; non-invasive genetic sampling will help us target the specific animals to be captured for reinforcement purposes.

Project outputs:

A.2 Live-capture of Lynx in Romania

lynx — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 15:12:22 +0000

Assessment and Selection of Sites and Lynx for Live-capture from the Carpathian Source Population in Romania

The goal of this action is to identify the most suitable areas and micro-locations for live-capture of animals in Romania to reinforce the Dinaric – SE Alpine lynx population. Data collected in this action will also enable us to determine how many lynx can be removed from each area without compromising the population. The first field activities will begin in 2017, one year prior to capture, and will be carried out more intensively on the first and second year of the project in the Eastern Romanian Carpathians. Current information indicates there is a stable lynx population in this area. We will collect data on lynx distribution, abundance, movements, and activity using camera trapping, non-invasive genetic sampling, and snow tracking. Analysis of gathered data will provide reliable estimates of local lynx abundance and density in order to select the most suitable areas for live-capture. We will choose three capture areas based on the information gathered during the project.

Project outputs

A.3 Status of Residual Lynx

lynx — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 15:11:47 +0000

Pre-reinforcement Survey of the Potential Release Sites and the Genetic and Demographic Status of Residual Lynx

The goal of this action is to obtain information about the current genetic status, abundance, and sex-specific territorial distribution of lynx in potential release areas before conducting translocations. The success of any animal translocation effort, in part, hinges on the selection of appropriate release sites. Lynx exclude individuals of the same sex from their territory, but allow overlap with individuals of the opposite sex. Ideally, a translocated lynx will be placed in a territory of an animal of the opposite sex and without territorial lynx of the same sex. The data from this action will allow us to pinpoint optimal release sites. This information will be essential in preparing the reinforcement plan, as well as for guiding the first phases of the reinforcement, maximizing chances for survival and reproduction of the released lynx, and minimizing disturbance to existing territorial pairs. We will use several complementary methods and upgrade several in order to reduce total costs needed for obtaining the necessary information.

Activities inside this action include:

1) Distribution of questionnaires among hunting clubs and other holders of hunting rights to obtain updated information about lynx distribution as well as to promote collaboration.

2) Conducting genetic sampling and camera trapping, in collaboration with public institutions and hunting clubs, to obtain information needed for individual lynx identification, territorial limits, and the sex of lynx present in a given territory, which are crucial for selection of potential release sites.

3) Genetic analysis of newly collected lynx samples and samples from genetic banks in Slovenia and Croatia in order to estimate loss of genetic diversity in Dinaric lynx before the reinforcement.

4) Optimization of current laboratory methods at the University of Ljubljana in order to make the analysis more reliable and cost-effective.

Project outputs:

Map of sex-specific lynx territories in the Dinarids. A symbol ( or ) of every lynx gender is placed by it’s name and their approximate territories are colored in different color variations so they can be distinguished. Lynx without adjacent gender symbols have unknown gender and are colored grey.

A.4 Reinforcement Plans

lynx — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 15:11:25 +0000

Elaboration of Plans for Reinforcement of the Dinaric-SE Alpine Population and for Creation of a New “Stepping Stone” Population

The goals of this action are three-fold: to properly plan the reinforcement effort, to work closely with hunting communities to establish core release sites, and to establish a stepping stone habitat for lynx. These activities will help ensure long-term population persistence and will increase the outlook for demographic connectivity of the Dinaric and Alpine populations. This action includes an elaboration of guidelines for lynx reinforcement, preparation of a population level reinforcement plan, and a regional reinforcement plan.

A: Preparatory Actions, Elaboration of Management Plans and/or Action Plans - Life lynx

A.1 Live-capture of Lynx in Slovakia

Assessment and Selection of Sites and Lynx for Live-capture from the Carpathian Source Population in Slovakia

Related news

Successful finish of lynx captures for the LIFE Lynx project in the Slovak Carpathians

The first lynx captured in 2023 also in Slovakia

The last LIFE Lynx lynx-capturing season in Slovakia

Lubomir – adult male lynx captured in Slovakia

A.2 Live-capture of Lynx in Romania

Assessment and Selection of Sites and Lynx for Live-capture from the Carpathian Source Population in Romania

Related news

Lynx Kras has arrived in the beautiful forests of the Plitvice Lakes

Shortly after activation of the first box-traps, a male lynx was captured in Romania

The last season of capturing lynx in Romania in the scope of the LIFE Lynx project

First lynx captured in Romania this year

A.3 Status of Residual Lynx

Pre-reinforcement Survey of the Potential Release Sites and the Genetic and Demographic Status of Residual Lynx

Project outputs:

Related news

Genetic and demographic data improve lynx translocations

Cooperation with hunters greatly improved the lynx monitoring results in Slovenia

Camera trapping guidelines – also in French

We uploaded the full report about lynx camera trapping in Slovenia in 2018/19

A.4 Reinforcement Plans

Elaboration of Plans for Reinforcement of the Dinaric-SE Alpine Population and for Creation of a New “Stepping Stone” Population

Project outputs:

Related news

Map of lynx habitat occupancy

Regional reinforcement plans

Population Reinforcement Plan

Lessons Learned from Past Reintroduction