Lynx Status Very Bad in Sweden

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Lynx Status Very Bad in Sweden

CAT NEWS
Issue 16, Spring 1992

The situation of the lynx in Sweden is "very bad" and the total population, as estimated by the Environment Protection Board, may not exceed 200, declares Klas Hjelm, Conservation Officer of the Swedish Society for National Conservation.

At the insistance of the Society, the lynx was given strict protection in Sweden as from 1991.

Hjelm says a four-week study in Jämtland in February-March 1991, involving 3,000 km travel by snowmobile, verified the presence of at least four reproductive units, with a total, roughly-estimated, population of 38-74 lynx. Earlier studies in the county of Norrbotten, including the large national parks of Sarek, Padjelanta and Stora Sjöfallet showed only three reproductive units.

Jämtland is one of the largest counties in Sweden, covering 37,700 km². It is an important area for reindeer management, with nearly 50,000 reindeer, 17% of Sweden's total.

Hjelm says that Jämtland, in northern Sweden, has the highest number of reindeer killed by predators. In 1989/90, 7.1% of the county's reindeer were reported killed compared to 2.8% in the whole country. The lynx is reported to be the most important predator on reindeer in Jämtland (nearly 50%), while in other areas the lynx's share of the loss is less than 20%.

The study, carried out by the Society, together with the Environment Protection Board and Jämtland's County Administrative Board will be repeated this year (1992).

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