EURASIAN LYNX FACTFILE
NAME Eurasian Lynx
SCIENTIFIC NAME Lynx lynx GEOGRAPHIC RANGE Throughout Europe and Central Asia. The stronghold of the population is found in Scandinavia and Russia. HABITAT A wide variety of habitats including deciduous and mixed forest, thick scrub and barren rocky areas. LIFESPAN 10-15 years in the wild. Up to 20 years in captivity. WEIGHT 18– 21kg
DIET Roe deer, red deer, wild boar, rabbits, squirrels and birds. WILD POPULATION Approx. 50,000 worldwide
IUCN RED LIST STATUS
Currently not at risk of becoming extinct in the wild. GENERAL DESCRIPTION The Eurasian lynx is the largest of the four species of lynx, with one of the widest ranges of all wild cats. All four species share very similar characteristics, with elongated powerful back legs, large paws, short tails and tufted ears. Powerful back legs allow the lynx to jump vertically up to 3 metres, catching birds mid-flight. Lynx have a short tail as are ground dwelling cats who are unlikely to climb. It is thought the lynx have tufted ears to help them hear or determine prey location. The Eurasian lynx coat colour changes depending on the season. In the winter months the Eurasian lynx has a thick coat which is grey and white in colour, and in the summer the coat thins out and turns a deep copper colour. Eurasian lynx are a solitary species, and generally nocturnal or crepuscular. This secretive species hunt by ambushing their prey, mainly targeting large prey such as deer, hunting smaller prey when necessary. The Eurasian lynx was native to the UK approx. 1300 years ago, but sadly, due to overhunting, was eradicated. There are plans for controlled reintroductions of the Eurasian lynx into some areas of the UK to restore natural ecosystems, however no plans have been officially approved to date.
EURASIAN LYNX RANGE
THREATS
• Habitat loss and fragmentation– this has occurred mainly in western Europe due to an increase in urbanisation of wild areas. The Eurasian lynx were eradicated from most of their range in western Europe, however have successfully been reintroduced into areas in France, Germany and Switzerland.
• Prey depletion– caused by overhunting of prey species and habitat loss.
• Poaching– the Eurasian lynx are targeted for their fur, and this was the primary reason populations of lynx vanished from the UK 1300 years ago. Although illegal poaching is a problem across their range, they are also legally hunted in a few of their range countries including Sweden, Norway, Finland and Latvia.