All of Germany used to be lynx country. From the Alps to far north, the largest cat in Central Europe roamed through the forests of the Federal Republic. But the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) was hunted so heavily that it was wiped out in large parts of the country 200 years ago.
But times are changing and now the shy big cat is returning.
So far there are less than 200 lynxes living in Germany. In 2020, 194 animals were counted in the Federal Republic. In order for the population to stabilize and grow, the newborn lynx offspring must be protected.
For this reason, , WWF, HIT Umwelt- und Naturschutz Stiftungs-GmbH and the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy and Mobility have jointly set up a sanctuary for young injured or orphaned lynxes on the grounds of the TIERART wildlife station. Here, orphaned lynx children and injured young animals can be raised and nursed back to health until they are released back into the wild. The Palatinate Forest is one of the largest contiguous forest areas in the Federal Republic and therefore ideal lynx territory.
The sanctuary for small lynxes is the first of its kind in Germany. She will make an important contribution to the preservation and protection of the Eurasian lynx. Unfortunately, the death rate among young animals is very high. On average, a female gives birth to two young per litter, of which only around 30% survive to adulthood in the wild. The sanctuary serves as an additional safety net to protect the lynx in Germany and to help the mysterious cat return home.
The reintroduction of a species requires that the factors that led to its extinction no longer exist. The lynx was deprived of its habitat at the end of the 20th century, its prey was hunted and decimated by humans and it itself was persecuted. Even if other factors such as the developed road network can pose a threat to the big cat today, the living conditions have improved to such an extent that the lynx can return to its old homeland. The first animals have resettled in the Bavarian Forest and in the Harz Mountains and, with support, it will also be possible for the lynx to settle down permanently in the Palatinate Forest again.