Eurasian lynx

Lynx lynx

Family 

Felidae

Distribution

Lynxes live in the Alps, the Jura and the north-eastern part of Switzerland and are predominantly forest dwellers.

Lifestyle

Lynxes are solitary animals who mark and defend their extensive territories, which, depending on the adequacy of the food supply, can exceed 200 km2 in size. When they reach the age of one year, the young leave their mothers to seek out their own territories.

Reproduction

Their mating season extends from January to March and their gestation period is around ten weeks. They give birth to two or three kittens between April and June in a secluded location.

Diet

Lynxes are stalkers and hunters who stealthily track their prey and then overwhelm them in a surprise attack. They hunt mainly during twilight and at night. Lynxes cover significant parts of their territories each day in search of prey. In Switzerland, 88% of the lynx's prey consist of roe deer and chamois. Surprisingly, the red fox is in third place, making up 4.3% of the lynx diet (source: KORA). They also prey on martens, wild boars, mice and marmots. Attacks on livestock ­– particularly sheep, seldom goats – only happen locally and when other prey is unavailable. The Swiss national lynx plan allows a relocation or local hunt of lynxes in areas where attacks on livestock occur.

Senses

Lynxes have very good eyesight, their powerful retinas also allowing them to see in the dark. They also have excellent hearing, the tufts of hair on their ears increasing the ability to locate the sources of sounds.

The lynx in Langenberg

Since 1975. Their enclosure, which was constructed in 1982, offers the lynxes plenty of room to move around and seclude themselves. There are elevated platforms that give them space to rest. The lynxes in the Langenberg are largely fed on chicken. Their food is distributed along the treetops via a cable car system.