Eurasian Lynx
Lynx lynx (Linnaeus, 1758)
Lynx pardinus: Christovich, 1884: p. 30; Felis lynx L.: Popov, 1933: p. 295.
Order Carnivora
Family Felidae
Conservation status: in Bulgaria: Critically endangered CR [D+E], BDA-II, III; International: BeC-III, HD-II, IV.
General distribution. The Palearctic: including Northern and Eastern Europe, Central Europe mainly in the Carpathian Mountains; in the Alps and the neighbouring regions it was successfully restored after 1967 (Slovenia, 1973) and/or settled by itself. The endangered autochthonous Balkan population inhabits Southwestern Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and possibly Strandzha (Bulgaria and Turkey).
Distribution and abundance in Bulgaria. It was assumed to be extinct at the beginning of the 40s of the previous century [1]. After 1985, reports of its appearance became more frequent for the Central Balkan range, Rila, the Western Rhodopes (Dobrostan and Dabrash), the valley of the river Danube and the Ludogorie region, the river Ropotamo [ 2], Strandzha [3], the Western border mountains [4]. Observed (2000) to the south of the village of Stakevtsi, the Western Balkan range (E. Dzhuninski, personal communication); in the same region its presence was proved in 2004/5 [2]. Obviously, these lynxes are part of the population that formed in the last 20-25 years in Eastern Serbia [5] by animals that settled on their own from the Carpathian Mountains, numbering about 30 individuals [2, 6, 7].
Habitats. Spacious forest massifs in the mountains. It prefers old natural forests and rocky places; it also hunts in the sub-alpine and the Alpine zone.
Biology. The mating season is in February-March. The cubs, most frequently 2-3, are born in May-June. In the search for hunting territory and a partner, the young animals, as well as the adult ones from local populations with low density or in conditions of lack of food, can be found in non-typical places, making distant trips. Expected individual territory in Bulgarian conditions: 3000 – 10 000 ha. The basic prey consists of roe-deer, young wild boars, hares; the food range also includes female and young deers, galiform birds, rodents [8, 9]. It also attacks farm animals. The wolf is the major competitor and enemy.
Similar species. None.
Negative factors. Illegal shooting, decrease of wild ungulates, felling old forests and fragmentation of their massifs, road accidents. Hybridization of the autochthonous relict population with the increasing population of Carpathian lynxes in the northern part of former Yugoslavia.
Conservation measures taken. Included in the Red Book of Bulgaria, 1985, as an extinct species. A proposal for reintroduction [10] and investigations for re-introduction according to a project of the Council of Europe. A protected species as of 1986. The established national and natural parks are potential habitats.
Conservation measures needed. Ban on felling in old natural forests. Creation of natural parks in the Western Balkan range, Sredna gora, the Western Rhodopes and enlargement of the Pirin National Park. Under conditions of dispersal and breeding of the species, the protected territories in the future (about 1 million ha) would become refuges for a population of up to 200 lynxes.
References. 1. Spiridonov, Spassov, 1985; 2. Spassov, Spiridonov, Penev, 2006; 3. Kumerloeve, 1975; 4 Zlatanova et al., 2001; 5. Spiridonov, 1985; 6. Grubac, 2000; 7. Paunovic et al., 2001; 8. Geptner, Sludskiy, 1972; 9. Matjushkin, 1974; 10. Spiridonov, 1970.
Authors: Geko Spiridonov, Nikolai Spassov
