Another Litter for Female Lynx Vreni
Successful Release into the Wild
Good news from the Thuringian Forest: for the first time, two animals released into the wild as part of the "Luch-Thuringia" project have produced offspring together.
Last week, a camera trap captured an image of the female lynx Vreni with a cub. The project managers of “Luchs-Thüringen” believe it is highly likely that the male lynx Ionel is the father. This would mark the first time that two animals released into the wild as part of the project have produced offspring together.
The photo was taken south of Ilmenau, where Vreni has had her territory since her release two years ago. Ionel has also settled in this region. Both animals were seen together in camera trap images taken during the mating season.
Second Litter
Vreni had already given birth to two cubs last year. This litter was documented by camera trap images in February and March 2026. The father of the cubs born in 2025 is unknown.
Vreni comes from Wildnispark Zurich; Ionel arrived in Thuringia a year and a half ago as a wild-caught lynx from the Romanian Carpathians. Both animals have established territories in the region around Ilmenau.
Better Connecting Lynx
Vreni was the first lynx from Wildnispark Zurich to be released into the wild in Germany as part of the Europe-wide Linking Lynx project. Linking Lynx aims to better connect the isolated lynx populations in Central Europe in order to ensure the long-term survival of Europe’s largest wild cat.
