Europe's Introduced Lynx in Peril?

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Europe's Introduced Lynx in Peril?

CAT NEWS
Issue 20, Spring 1994

Lynx reintroduced to western Europe in the past two decades may be in peril of extirpation in a hostile environment.

Leading Swiss research scientists say that recorded road deaths, illegal killing, deaths from unknown causes and capture of orphaned kittens totalled 88 since the releases in the 1970s, and the real loss must be much higher, particularly because of undetected illegal killing. The growth of the lynx population and its radiation had been halted, while a lack of males threatened genetic problems.

"Twenty years after their reintroduction, the lynx seems to be returning to the road to extinction, not only in Switzerland, but also in Austria", they declared in an article in the WWF Switzerland's Panda News (2/94).

The researchers, Urs Breitenmoser and his wife, Christine, and Simon Capt, recalled that about two dozen lynx were released in the Swiss Alps and Jura mountains. For a long time, all appeared to be going well, although the impact of the lynx on roe deer Capreolus capreolus and chamois Rupicapra rupicapra, as well as on sheep, provoked a lively controversy. Hunters and sheep-owners had declared war on the lynx, although research showed that it was mainly a passing phase of adaptation. Roe deer and chamois were unused to a predator and well-fed lynx multiplied until the ungulates declined and became wary. Surplus lynx then attacked sheep but lynx density declined until a balance was achieved.

Now lynx numbers in the repopulated areas have declined, but the dangers from cars, trains and incorrigible hunters persist.

Dealing with the genetic threat, the scientists noted that it was difficult to evaluate, but small, isolated populations were vulnerable. This was particularly dangerous when such populations were descended from a few individuals. It was not known if the separate populations in the Jura and the Alps were affected, but the symptoms would only now be appearing.

Of three males and four females followed since 1990, only one of each sex now survived. While the female ranges had been recolonized by other females, Taro was the only male left and his range encompassed that of six females. All the off-spring were, therefore, related.

The lack of males was due mainly to poor cub survival. Half the young died during the first 10 months of life, while with their mother, and half of the survivors during their second year. Observations and estimates showed that a maximum of 3-6 of 22 young in the Jura had reached their third year, and none was a male.

A separate note in Panda News said that, if the lynx population was to stabilize, every female needed a lifetime production of two surviving young. This meant that a female needed to drop litters during at least eight years of her life, but, in view of the losses in the adult population and reduced life expectancy, that did not seem probable.

Heinz Stalder, WWF Switzerland's Project Director, stated that all the great predators in Switzerland – bears, wolves and lynx – had formerly been classed as pests and been extirpated. These attitudes of earlier times could be understood to some extent. But today the loss of a sheep was compensated in cash, which cost the government some SF.10,000 (US$7,000) a year, so that, given the millions of francs in subventions that also went to small livestock breeders, there was no reason to shoot at the lynx.

Obviously, lynx took roe deer and chamois, but there remained some who could not tolerate these attacks: they were often expert hunters ready to fire at lynx. This persistent attitude, leading to completely illegal hunts, was the principal menace to the lynx, 23 years after its reintroduction.

To give the cat a chance, it was necessary to find and give exemplary punishment to the "criminals". A possible solution could be sought jointly by the authorities, livestock breeders and hunters' associations.

"It is not credible to demand that third world countries protect their rhinoceroses, tigers or elephants if Switzerland itself is not capable of caring for the lynx," Stalder declared.

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