Two juvenile Eurasian lynx – a one year-old female and a one-year old male – have been released into a natural forest area in Western Pomerania, north-western Poland, as part of a long-term reintroduction initiative. In February, a collaboration between the West Pomeranian Nature Society (ZTP) and Rewilding Oder Delta (ROD) saw three animals transported from a German animal park near Hamburg to Dzika Zagroda enclosure facility near Mirosławiec in Poland.
On arrival, the lynx were allocated into large enclosures to adapt to their new surroundings. After several weeks of acclimatisation and regular monitoring, the experts on site evaluated that one of the animals has already proved capable of surviving in the wild by showing both natural hunting behaviour and a timid attitude towards humans. Together with another female lynx rescued by ZTP last year and ready for the release, the male received a telemetric collar that enables tracking and was set free into a natural forest habitat.
Since 2019, the West Pomeranian Nature Society (ZTP) has successfully released a total of 70 lynx into forests in the area, restoring the breeding population. The newly released lynx will diversify and strengthen the Baltic subpopulation of lynx in north-western Poland ensuring its long-term survival.
The main threat to Europe’s largest wild cat remains human activity – loss and fragmentation of habitat due to infrastructure development play the crucial part followed by poaching. The dramatic decline in lynx numbers in many regions and growing ecological awareness among the public has led to intensified efforts to save this rare species. The reintroduced lynx in north-western Poland are fortunately thriving, with ZTP and ROD closely collaborating to preserve this positive trend.
As a top predator, the lynx plays an important role in maintaining balanced and healthy populations of other animals, such as smaller mammals and roe deer. This has a significant impact on maintaining the health of the ecosystem, contributing to the natural regeneration of flora and fauna and increasing biodiversity.
The release was made possible by the support of Rewilding Europe’s recently established European Wildlife Comeback Fund, which aims to boost species reintroduction and population reinforcement across the continent for the benefit of nature and people.
Contact:
Wiebke Brenner • Project officer wildlife comeback
Tel +49 178 206 4737
wiebke.brenner(@)rewilding-oder-delta.com