Translocation

Press release from the Ministry of Food, Rural Areas and Consumer Protection Baden-Württemberg, 19 December 2024:

‘With the release of the lynx named ‘Reinhold’ into the wild, we are continuing the lynx population support programme in Baden-Württemberg. I am very pleased that we have finally managed to release another animal into the wild this year. ‘Reinhold’ follows the one-and-a-half-year-old female lynx named ‘Verena’, who was released from the transport box in the northern Black Forest almost a month ago and has been discovering her new habitat ever since. She has already successfully hunted and killed deer. Originally, both animals were to be released at the same time, but this failed because the male lynx could only be captured in the coordination enclosure in Thuringia. However, with the mating season for lynx, which takes place between February and April, in mind, we are still on time. The fact that the animals are roaming around in the area also increases the chances of the first lynx offspring in the wild, which makes me very happy,’ said Peter Hauk, the Minister for Nutrition, Rural Areas and Consumer Protection, on 19 December 2024 at the release in the northern Black Forest.

The lynx male Reinhold, who was born in May 2023 at the Wildkatzendorf Hütscheroda in Thuringia, is a brother of the lynx cat Finja. The population support project started with her in December 2023. Unfortunately, she died of the viral disease distemper in July of this year. Since Finja is no longer alive, the release of the brother does not pose a risk of inbreeding.

‘The four-year project ‘Luchs Baden-Württemberg’ aims to enable the recolonisation of Baden-Württemberg by lynx through population support, thus enabling genetic exchange with neighbouring lynx populations in the Swiss Jura, the Vosges or the Palatinate Forest,’ emphasised Minister Hauk. The project also contributes to the international preservation of biodiversity and the biodiversity goals of the German federal government and the European Union (EU).

Male lynx on the move

So far, no females have migrated to the northern Black Forest from Switzerland, and male lynx have only rarely done so. The lynx male ‘Toni’, who migrated from the Swiss Jura in 2019, is currently still living there. Another territorial lynx, ‘Wilhelm’, lives in the southern Black Forest.

Black Forest as a suitable lynx habitat

The large contiguous forest areas in the Black Forest and the abundance of game offer the lynx ideal living conditions. In her new home, the young lynx female ‘Verena’ is to form a foundation for a healthy population of lynx in Baden-Württemberg together with the resident lynx male Toni and other animals that follow, such as Reinhold.

Preparation in natural game reserves

Since September, Reinhold has been living in an enclosure specially built for the reintroduction of lynx in Thuringia. Here he was prepared for a life in nature and his behaviour was observed. Only lynx that show fear of humans and dogs are suitable for reintroduction. Lynx do not have to learn to hunt and can rely on their innate instincts in nature.

With the support of the World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF), the Karlsruhe Zoo Species Conservation Foundation and the state, the Karlsruhe Zoo is currently building its own release enclosure outside the zoo grounds, which is intended to support future release projects in Baden-Württemberg and throughout Europe.

Reintroducing lynx makes sense

Since 2004, a total of 18 male lynx, mainly from Switzerland, have migrated to Baden-Württemberg. Only one female was a guest in the country for a very short time. However, many lynx only visited Baden-Württemberg temporarily because there were no mates. Lynx are solitary animals and occupy very large territories (territories). Female animals are much more reluctant to search for a new habitat, which is why the nearby lynx population in the Swiss Jura has not managed to cross over into the Black Forest, which would actually be a very suitable habitat for them. At the moment, with the exception of ‘Verena’, there are two proven territorial males living in Baden-Württemberg. It is extremely unlikely that a human will encounter a lynx in the Black Forest. The animals live secretly. They are active at night and at dusk. Their main prey is deer. The development of the future lynx population will therefore largely go unnoticed by the public.

The state government, scientific institutions such as the Forest Research Institute of Baden-Württemberg (FVA), WWF Germany, Karlsruhe Zoo, the State Hunting Association and the Lynx Initiative Baden-Württemberg, among others, are working closely together to support the lynx population and achieve the necessary acceptance in Baden-Württemberg. The project is supported by the Working Group (AG) Lynx and Wolf Baden-Württemberg.