This nine-month-old female Eurasian lynx was born at Newquay Zoo in Cornwall. She is now prepared to make history as she begins her final journey towards a successful release back into the wild. This huge step is part of a European captive breeding program. Its aim is to increase the numbers of this species, which has been absent from the UK for around 1,300 years due to hunting and habitat destruction.
The young lynx has now been relocated to the Black Forest area of southwestern Germany. She will be in a three-month monitored acclimation period there. This first step is very important. It’s an important tool to assess her ease in adjusting to her new surroundings and the rigors of living life in the wild.
John Meek, curator of plants and animals at Newquay Zoo, managed the lynx’s move. He was, understandably, excited and nervous during their transfer. He continued, “Zoos today should not be about putting animals in cages. They’re there for conservation. And this is it, conservation in action.” His passion for the project was evident as he described his role: “Basically I’m Tinder for the zoo-born lynx.”
The EU-approved decision to relocate the lynx was due to a lack of females in the European breeding program. As the lynx-breeding coordinator for the European Endangered Species Program, Dina Gebhardt keeps a watchful eye on her cats. She was instrumental in jumpstarting the initial transfer request. She stressed that genetic diversity is key to the population’s survival. Our nature is pretty chopped up due to railroads and highways and urban areas, she said. This man-made fragmentation raises a multitude of barriers for the lynx, forcing them into inbreeding.
Once indigenous to the UK, Eurasian lynxes were hunted out of their natural range over a thousand years ago. Their only breeding program today works to restore their populations. It seeks to bring them back to places where they once flourished. If all goes to plan, this female lynx would be the first UK zoo-born cat ever to be released into the wild.
At four months, the baby lynx weighs 50 to 65 pounds—a healthy weight for her age and species. Her initial monitoring period will produce useful information on her behavior and adaptability, which are important factors that will help guide future reintroduction efforts.
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