The Status of Nepal's Mammals: The National Red List Series - IUCN

i) Conduct research using direct and indirect sign
surveys to establish occupancy, ecology and
population size of this species.
ii) Develop local community conservation awareness
programmes to prevent any hunting and
disturbance to the species. Discourage illegal trade
on the live animal and its body parts.
References
Suwal and Verheught 1995, Nepal Red List of Mammals Field Technicians Workshop 2010,
Hem Sagar Baral (pers. obs.) 2010.
44) Lynx lynx (Linnaeus, 1758)
Common Names
Eurasian Lynx, Lynx (English); Pahan Biralo, Phyaku
Biralo (Nepali)
Species Description
Sandy grey coat, black spots mainly on the legs
(although can occur all over). Short tail. Longer hair
around the face like a small mane. Characteristic
black tufts on the tips of the ears. Large paws.
Species Ecology
The Eurasian Lynx occurs at high elevations in open
scrubby lands and areas with dense forest cover and
tends to avoid areas of high human activity such as
agricultural areas and major roads. Home range size
varies widely and densities are typically one to three
adults per 100 km 2 . The Eurasian Lynx feeds mainly
on ungulate prey, although it relies on smaller prey
where and when ungulates are less abundant.
Eurasian Lynx also predate on livestock and losses
can be quite significant, for example in 2003 the
species was responsible for 7% of livestock taken by
wild predators in the VDCs of Chhosher, Chhonup,
Surkhang and Tsarang in the Upper Mustang district
of the Annapurna Conservation Area, with the
majority of kills being goat (86%).
Females become sexually mature at around two
years and have been recorded to be sexually active
up to an age of 14 years. Gestation period is
between 67 to 74 days after which a litter of
between one to five kittens is born.
iii) Ensure that forested areas outside protected
areas remain good habitat for the species with
adequate food supply.
iv) Develop captive breeding programmes to study
the life-history traits of this species and to provide a
source for potential reintroduction programmes in
the future.
Conservation Status
Global: Least Concern
National: Vulnerable B1a; D2
National Vulnerable B1ab (iii); D2
Rationale for assessment: The Eurasian Lynx (Lynx
lynx) has been nationally assessed as Vulnerable
under criterion B and D due to a suspected small
population (based on infrequency of observations)
and small estimated extent of occurrence from less
than 10 locations. The threats to this species include
persecution and retaliatory killings in response to
depredation on livestock and poaching for its fur.
These threats are likely to be also present in the
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