Translocation

Press release from Baden-Württemberg Forestry, 30 September 2025:

«The lynx is to become native to Baden-Württemberg once again. With this population support project, we are helping the animals to return permanently to their traditional habitat. Only healthy, carefully selected and prepared lynxes will be released into the wild. The release of the lynx Elisabeth is something special. Female lynxes do not migrate very far, so an influx from neighbouring countries is not to be expected. However, lynxes are an important prerequisite for establishing a native lynx population in the northern Black Forest. I am therefore particularly pleased that we are making progress with the project with the release of Elisabeth and can increase the proportion of female lynxes in Baden-Württemberg so that this fascinating species can once again permanently colonise the Black Forest,« said Peter Hauk, Minister for Food, Rural Affairs and Consumer Protection, on the occasion of the release in the northern Black Forest.

There are currently eleven lynxes roaming the Black Forest

With Elisabeth, the number of lynxes released into the wild rises to five. Together with six other male lynxes that have migrated naturally in recent years, a total of eleven lynxes now roam the Black Forest.

Female lynx Elisabeth raises hopes for offspring

Elisabeth follows Martin, who was released into the wild in July 2025 by the team led by project manager Eva Klebelsberg from the Baden-Württemberg Forest Research Institute (FVA) at the same location. Just two weeks later, Martin caught his first deer. ‘That was a good start for him,’ says Klebelsberg. "Offspring are crucial for supporting the population. We hope that Elisabeth will settle into her new territory just as quickly and successfully and perhaps produce offspring as early as next spring," adds the biologist. Like all five lynxes that have already been released into the wild as part of the project, Elisabeth will genetically enrich the lynx population in the Black Forest and neighbouring regions.

Elisabeth was born in Chemnitz

The female lynx Elisabeth was born in May 2024 at Chemnitz Zoo. The zoo participates in the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) conservation breeding programme for the Carpathian lynx, a rare subspecies of the Eurasian lynx. The aim is to maintain a genetically diverse population of lynx. The offspring of lynxes from zoological institutions are important for increasing the gene pool of wild populations and ensuring offspring through the release of female animals into the wild.

From the beginning of March 2025 until her release into the wild, Elisabeth lived in the new coordination enclosure at Karlsruhe Zoo, where she had minimal contact with humans and was prepared as well as possible for life in the wild.

Behaviour is closely observed before release

«Before we decide to release a lynx, we look closely at its behaviour,’ explains Eva Klebelsberg: Elisabeth showed the hoped-for pronounced shyness towards humans and dogs. She is also able to break open whole wild animals on her own. ‘Excellent conditions for her future life in the Black Forest,» says Klebelsberg happily.

Before her release, Elisabeth was once again thoroughly examined and vaccinated. The FVA experts then fitted the female lynx with a transmitter collar so that they could track exactly how Elisabeth would use her new habitat. Monitoring is therefore an important part of the project.

Local hunters also play a particularly important role in monitoring the lynxes. They are the eyes and ears of the forest and support the project with their expertise and local knowledge, for example by reporting sightings and other signs of lynxes. They also pass on their knowledge about lynxes to the local population.