130925-studie-wildlife-comeback-in-europe

Figure 3.
Map of recent
developments
recorded for the
Eurasian lynx in
Europe.
Y
Expansion
Persistence
Contraction
k Monitoring
(radio collaring)
Y Reintroduction
i Confirmed
presence
i
ik
i
Recent developments
Much of the recent conservation attention has
been on the critically endangered Balkan subpopulation,
especially regarding the improvement of
monitoring and the closing of gaps in ecological
knowledge [15] . It appears that efforts are showing
signs of success: using camera traps, at least nine
lynx were detected in Mavroro National Park
(Macedonia) in spring 2010 [15, 18] . Definitive evidence
has also been found in in the Jablanca-Shebenik
mountains in December 2010 [15, 19] , and there has
been a first camera trap success in Albania in
April 2011 [20] . In the Western part of the species’
range, there have also been positive developments.
In 2009, lynx tracks were recorded for the first
time after a long absence in Krkonoše Mountains
National Park in the Czech Republic [21] , and other
evidence has been collected since. In nearby
Bohemian Switzerland (also in the Czech Republic),
camera traps confirmed the presence of lynx,
believed to have been drawn there by the relative
tranquillity in winter and expected to move on
to Saxony in the summer [21] . There has also been a
first direct sighting of a lynx in the southern Black
Forest region of Germany in March 2013 [22] .
In addition to conservation efforts in the
countries of occurrence, there are also moves
towards re-establishing populations in locations
from which the species has long been absent. For
example, the Lynx UK Trust has recently applied
for a license to introduce the lynx into a forest on
the west coast of Scotland [23] . This would initially
comprise two pairs to test the feasibility of the
reintroduction process in preparation for potential
further reintroductions to Wales and Northern
England [23] .
Despite range expansion, the genetic variability
remains compromised in some populations of
lynx, e.g. in Scandinavia [24] , the Carpathians [24] , and
the Dinaric, Alpine and Jura populations [6] . There
are also concerns over the Balkan and Palatinian
populations, who are believed to have decreased
and even disappeared respectively [6] . Because of its
dietary specialisation, which necessitates low lynx
population density and good cover, the species is
believed to be particularly sensitive to habitat loss
and fragmentation, which, in turn affects genetic
status [24] . The linkage of populations therefore
has to be a top priority in future management,
especially between Alpine, Jura and Dinaric
populations [6] . The probability of linking Bohemian-Bavarian
and Carpathian populations, however,
is very low due to man-made barriers [6] . Other
threats include poor management, accidental
mortality, and persecution resulting from conflict
with hunters [6] . In fact, with increasing populations,
low or decreasing acceptance has been recorded in
the Alps, Balkans, Jura, Karelia and Scandinavia [6] .
Because of this, public awareness and education
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