Another lynx from Wildnispark Zurich has been released into the wild in Thuringia
A major lynx reintroduction project is currently underway in the German state of Thuringia. This morning, “Wangari,” a female lynx born in 2025 at the Wildnispark Zurich, was released into the wild. She follows in the footsteps of “Vreni” from the Wildnispark Zurich, who has been roaming the Thuringian Forest for two years now.
In the 19th century, the lynx was exterminated across large parts of Western and Central Europe. Thanks to reintroduction projects, Europe’s largest cat has been able to reestablish itself in some areas, but the long-term survival of the lynx is not assured. The individual populations are too small and geographically isolated from one another. As a result, the lynx population is at risk of losing its genetic diversity. This makes the animals more susceptible to disease.
Reintroduction of Lynx in Germany
In Germany, the lynx remains threatened with extinction. As a result, reintroduction projects are currently underway in four regions: Thuringia, Baden-Württemberg, Saxony, and the Palatinate Forest. The reintroduction of lynx in the Thuringian Forest aims to connect two isolated populations: the population in the Harz Mountains with that in the Bavarian Forest. The “Lynx Thuringia” project began in 2024. By 2027, up to twenty lynx are to be released into the wild.
A Special Release Site
“Wangari” – named after the Kenyan environmental activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai – was released into the wild today alongside “Lana,” a female from Belgium. This brings the total number of lynx released into the Thuringian Forest to date to nine. The animals were released from a specially constructed release enclosure in the Thuringian Forest. Here, the two females were able to familiarize themselves with their surroundings for several weeks in separate areas. On Thursday morning, the gate to the enclosure was finally opened by German Environment Minister Carsten Schneider. “From here on, Wangari and Lana will have to find their own territories,” explains Max Boxleitner of WWF Germany, who is helping to oversee the “Lynx Thuringia” project.
Will they be neighbors with “Vreni” from the Zurich Wildlife Park?
Female lynx do not share their territory with other females but settle side by side. A male’s territory, on the other hand, typically overlaps with the territories of one to three females. Boxleitner: “Now we’ll have to wait and see where Wangari settles and which lynx she’ll be living near.” Among the females released into the Thuringian Forest is "Vreni," who was born in 2023 at Wildnispark Zurich.
“Vreni” made headlines a few weeks ago because she had been missing for months but then reappeared in camera trap images with a cub born last year. It is not yet known whether “Vreni” has given birth to cubs this year as well. “Since she was seen with male lynx Ionel during the mating season, we’re hoping for more offspring,” explains Max Boxleitner.
Wildnispark Zurich Prepares Lynxes for the Wild
“Wangari” is already the fourth lynx born at Wildnispark Zurich to be successfully released into the wild in Germany. The lynx enclosure at Wildnispark Zurich is one of the few in Europe where young lynxes can be prepared for an independent life in the wild. They are raised with as little human contact as possible and are fed only prey animals that correspond to those found in the wild – for example, roe deer and red deer, completely with skin and fur.
Thanks to donations, the Wildnispark Zurich Foundation is able to meet these strict requirements: In addition to careful food selection and feeding via special automatic feeders, this includes natural vegetation that provides ample cover throughout the large enclosure.
Further information:
Zurich Wildlife Park:
Barbara Felix, Head of Marketing and Communications, +41 44 722 55 29, barbara.felix@wildnispark.ch
Thuringia Lynx Project:
Kerstin Neumann, +49 176 13338510, k.neumann@bund-thueringen.de
Dr. Max Boxleitner, +49 151 18854867, max.boxleitner@wwf.de
Further information:
- “Lynx Thuringia – Connecting Europe’s Lynx”: luchs-thueringen.de
- Pan-European Coordination: “Linking Lynx” Network. Founded in 2023, the network’s goal is to genetically and geographically connect lynx populations across Europe to create a viable population stretching from the Carpathians to the Alps and the Jura.
Visuals:
Images in the ZIP file below.
Caption
- The female lynx ‘Wangari’ was born at Wildnispark Zurich. She has now been released into the wild in the Thuringian Forest (Germany). Here, the lynx is leaving the acclimatisation enclosure at the release site. Source: Max Kersberger / Luchs Thüringen
- ‘Wangari’ is already the fourth lynx born at Wildnispark Zurich to have been released into the wild in Germany. Source: Max Kersberger / Luchs Thüringen
