"Linking Lynx" Network
Working Together for Europe's Lynxes
A lynx knows no national borders. That is why a cross-border effort is needed to protect and support lynx populations. The “Linking Lynx” network is dedicated to this cause.
The “Linking Lynx” network brings together lynx experts from across Europe. The long-term goal of “Linking Lynx” is to connect existing populations and create a viable lynx metapopulation stretching from the Carpathians to the Jura and the Western Alps, including the German low mountain ranges and part of the Dinaric Alps.
The Zurich Wilderness Park is part of this European initiative by participating in the Eurasian lynx breeding program and by redesigning the animals’ housing conditions so that the lynx remain as shy as possible and are thus suitable for release into the wild.
→ How international cooperation works
For a successful release into the wild, those responsible at “Linking Lynx” must answer many questions, such as:
- Which lynx is genetically suitable for breeding or for reintroduction into a specific area?
- Is its behavior suited for life in the wild?
- How and where can populations be connected in the long term?
- How many lynx can be removed from a wild population and released elsewhere without jeopardizing the survival of the lynx in that area?
“Linking Lynx” brings together the knowledge and experience of various partners to develop sustainable solutions for all stakeholders.
