Translocation

Ministry for rural affairs, agriculture and regional identity of Baden-Württemberg, 9 September 2026:

«Nero, the male lynx released into the wild today, was born at Karlsruhe Zoo. This makes him the first lynx from the conservation breeding programme for the Carpathian lynx not only to have been born in Baden-Württemberg, but also to have been released into the wild here in the state. Nero is a true Baden-Württemberg native, and with him we are continuing on the path towards establishing a permanent lynx population in the state», said Marion Gentges, Member of the State Parliament and Minister of Rural Affairs, Agriculture and Regional Identity, on Wednesday (9 September), on the occasion of the release as part of the project to reinforce the lynx population in Baden-Württemberg.

The reinforcement of the lynx population in Baden-Württemberg is intended to enable the species to return permanently to its native habitat. The release of healthy lynx that have been prepared for life in the wild is essential to achieving this goal. In early summer 2026, offspring from two released female lynx were confirmed for the first time in around 200 years – a milestone for the project.

Nero was born at Karlsruhe Zoo on 21 May 2025 and had been living since March 2026 in the newly established coordination enclosure at the Oberwald wildlife park, which is part of Karlsruhe Zoo.

Established in spring 2025, the particularly natural and largely secluded enclosure gives the animals the opportunity to prepare for life in the wild with as little human contact as possible. Nero follows Luna, a female lynx that was released into the wild in July of this year.

Genetic diversity strengthens the lynx population
The male lynx comes from the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) European conservation breeding programme for the Carpathian lynx.

The aim of the conservation breeding programme is to maintain a genetically diverse European lynx population. «Offspring from zoological institutions can make an important contribution to species conservation. Releasing suitable animals into the wild can broaden the gene pool of wild populations and thereby strengthen their resilience to external influences», emphasised Eva Klebelsberg of the Forest Research Institute Baden-Württemberg (FVA), which leads the population reinforcement project.

There are currently 14 lynx roaming the Black Forest – also thanks to a state project
With Nero, the number of lynx released into the wild as part of the «Luchs Baden-Württemberg» project, which has been running since 2023, has risen to seven. Together with lynx that have migrated naturally into Baden-Württemberg in recent years, a total of 14 adult animals are currently living in the Black Forest.

Background information:
The «Luchs Baden-Württemberg» project

The FVA is responsible for managing the project and works in close cooperation with the Baden-Württemberg State Hunting Association, WWF Germany, Karlsruhe Zoological Gardens and the Luchs-Initiative Baden-Württemberg.

The project is supported by the alosa Foundation. It was commissioned by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Rural Affairs, Agriculture and Regional Identity.

The project is supported by the «Linking Lynx» expert network, which focuses on the conservation, monitoring and management of the Carpathian lynx. Its long-term objective is to establish a viable metapopulation of the Carpathian lynx in Europe, extending from the Carpathian Mountains to the Jura Mountains, the Western Alps and the Dinaric Mountains.

The lynx released into the wild in Baden-Württemberg come from the European conservation breeding programme for the Carpathian lynx, coordinated by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA).