Wild lynxes are endangered and their natural habitats are under pressure. In Europe, populations are small and isolated from one another. This increases the risk of inbreeding. To ensure genetic exchange, populations are being deliberately connected through reintroduction programs. The Wildnispark Zurich is participating in these conservation efforts: over the past three years, three female lynxes born at Langenberg Wildlife Park have been released into the wild in Germany. The animals are intended to help stabilize the highly endangered lynx populations in the long term.
The project
With its spacious lynx enclosure, Langenberg Wildlife Park is already one of the few European zoos that meets the conditions for preparing lynxes for release into the wild. In order for young lynxes to survive in the wild, they must remain shy! Keeping animals under these conditions is costly: the animals must not associate food with humans or farm animals. This requires special feeding machines and only wild meat is fed. The young lynxes must undergo regular medical examinations. Gentle capture devices are necessary to catch them without causing stress. With the aim of continuing to successfully and actively participate in the release of young lynxes into the wild, Wildnispark Zurich is launching the “Leap into Freedom” project.
The Förderverein Wildnispark Zurich is supporting this project.
Donation information
Your donation is tax-deductible. Your donation will go to the Förderverein Wildnispark Zurich, which will use the money exclusively for this project.
Donation account: IBAN CH18 0900 0000 8724 8863 2
Thank you for your donation!
Every donation helps the lynxes to return to the wild. Thank you! Here you can donate directly to Wildlifepark Zurich for this project via Twint, Google Pay or credit card.
150'000 Swiss francs
- Setting up a third section of the enclosure for separating young animals
- Developing and installing a gentle capture system
- Installing remote-controlled feeding machines for feeding without the involvement of animal keepers
2026 - 2027
- The Wildnispark Zurich Foundation takes part in the European conservation breeding programme for lynx. Fortunately, the animals bred under this coordinated programme exhibit a high level of genetic diversity.
- In the fall of 2024, the first two female lynx from Wildnispark Zurich were released into the wild in Germany. An important step towards ensuring the survival of lynxes in Europe. (They were born in 2023). Verena is now well established in Baden-Württemberg. Vreni was released to the wild in Thuringia. After her GPS transmitter failed, she was missing for over a year. Then, in May 2026, came the wonderful news! She was spotted by a camera trap, together with a cub.
- Lynx triplets were born in June 2025. Like their half-sisters from 2023 and 2024, these cubs will hopefully be suitable for release into the wild or as breeding animals in the EAZA's European breeding program. This will be decided by the EEP coordinator and Linking Lynx.
- In September 2025, the third female lynx (Freya) is released into the wild in Saxony (Germany) (born in 2024). On 6 November, SRF1 broadcast a 45-minute documentary about Freya. At present, nothing is known about the animal’s whereabouts, as its GPS transmitter has failed.
- 2026: Verena has also a cub.
- In 2026, another female was born at Langenberg
«Leap into Freedom»
The Förderverein of the Wildnispark Zurich is committed to protecting lynxes in Europe.
Future for the brush ears
