Zoologists launch project to map behaviour of elusive lynx

The Šumava National Park and the Bavarian National Forest Park have begun a unique project to map the lives of elusive lynx inhabiting nature reserves on both sides of the border. Using special cameras, zoologists hope to learn more about the animals’ migration habits and other behaviour. The lynx is famously difficult to photograph up close; one reason why cameras at stations set up throughout the parks react to the slightest movement.

Czech and German specialists will soon be able to up close and personal to lynx inhabiting the Bohemian and Bavarian forests. Stations have been set up on both side of the border, reacting to movement and even equipped with sticky material to be able to pick up fur samples for DNA testing. A little earlier I spoke to Czech zoologist Luděk Bufka:

Lynx, photo: Silke Sohler, Creative Commons 3.0

“This project is part of a broader study between Germany and the Czech Republic covering the lynx and its prey. Photo cameras such as the ones we’ve put in place are generally used to catch sight of animals that are very elusive, and help us map the territory and behaviour of individual specimen. We also hope to gauge ties to offspring as well as the size of the overall population. Around 20 – 30 adult lynx live in the area of the Šumava National Park, and together with classic methods, we hope to learn more about them.”

Around 25 cameras, which react to movement, have been set up in parts of the park to photograph recognisable traits and to map individual specimens. On average, just one or two adults inhabit an area of 100 square kilometres, making it easy to understand why lynx are so difficult to spot. The new photo stations, specialists are hoping, will change that and are betting that they – and eventually the boarder public – will be able to learn more about the wild cats inhabiting areas in the Czech Republic and neighbouring Germany.