Second lynx from Wildnispark Zurich released into the wild in Germany

The last lynx in the German Alps was killed in 1850. Thanks to reintroduction projects since the 1970s, the population has grown to around 200 animals. However, without further releases and good habitat networking, the lynx will not survive in Germany. Initiatives are currently underway in several German federal states to support the lynx population.

Today, the second cub raised in the Wildnispark Zurich was released into the wild in Germany: The female named "Verena" is to strengthen the lynx population in Baden-Württemberg. "By actively releasing lynx into the wild, we want to promote the development of a lynx population in Baden-Württemberg and connect existing populations in Germany and Central Europe," explains Peter Hauk MdL, Minister for Food, Rural Areas and Consumer Protection in Baden-Württemberg. The one-and-a-half-year-old female has a similar name to her twin sister "Vreni", who was released into the wild in Thuringia (Germany) at the end of August.

European lynx populations are poorly connected

The wild lynx populations in Western and Central Europe are sometimes very isolated from one another, which means that the animals are threatened by inbreeding. For this reason, projects are underway in many European countries for the targeted reintroduction or population support of the lynx. The Linking Lynx network, in which lynx experts from all over Europe come together with the aim of creating a networked and thus viable metapopulation of lynx in Europe, plays an important role in this context. The Zurich Wilderness Park is one of the partner organizations of Linking Lynx.

Wildnispark Zurich prepares lynx for the wild

The Zurich Wilderness Park participates in the European conservation breeding program for the Carpathian lynx. The lynx facility in Langenberg is one of the few in Europe where young lynx can be prepared for an independent life in the wild. They are reared with as little human contact as possible and are only given food animals that are similar to those in the wild - for example deer and stags, skin and hair.

Thanks to donations, the Foundation Wildnispark Zurich is able to meet the strict requirements: In addition to the careful selection of food and feeding with the help of special automatic feeders, this also includes near-natural planting that provides plenty of cover in the large enclosure.

Vreni has already settled in well

Although Vreni, as a lynx born in captivity, has never been able to hunt a deer on her own before, she is now doing so very successfully and her prey behavior hardly differs from that of a lynx born in the wild. "Lynx play an important role in biodiversity. Their presence has a positive effect on the ecosystem, especially in the forest, by helping to keep wild ungulates such as roe deer and stags on the move," explains Karin Hindenlang Clerc, Managing Director of theFoundation Wildnispark Zurich . This reduces the browsing of young trees and benefits the forestry industry, an aspect that is often forgotten in the public debate about large carnivores.

Further information:

Contact Wildnispark Zurich: Mirella Wepf, Project Manager Communications, 044 722 55 22, mirella.wepf@wildnispark.ch

Media release Baden-Württemberg: PDF below

Picture: Vreni or Verena as a young animal. Photo: Stefan Eichholzer, Wildnispark Zurich