In a groundbreaking move, a lynx born in a zoo in Cornwall is being considered for release into the wild, potentially becoming the first UK zoo-born cat to achieve this feat. Typically, animals born and raised in zoos are not considered for release due to either lacking survival skills or becoming too accustomed to human interaction. However, a shortage of female lynxes in the European breeding programme has led to a unique request for the cat from Newquay Zoo, which has been moved to Germany’s Black Forest for monitoring in an enclosure to assess its readiness for the wild.
The Lynx from Newquay Zoo was transported to southwestern Germany this week, where it was carefully introduced into a 1,200-square-meter enclosure. Witnessing this momentous occasion, John Meek from Newquay Zoo expressed his emotions, stating, “Nowadays, zoos are not here to keep animals in cages. They’re there for conservation. And this is it, conservation in action.” Efforts to increase the genetic diversity of lynxes in central Europe have led to the introduction of new cats to the wild, as Eurasian lynxes, although not classified as “big cats,” can weigh up to 30 kilos and hunt deer for food.
Dina Gebhardt from Bern Animal Park, who runs the lynx breeding programme, humorously likens her role to being the “Tinder for zoo-born lynx.” Seeking to combat inbreeding and fragmented habitats that hinder lynx populations, Dina coordinates the matching of males and females across Europe, and finding new homes for their offspring to preserve genetic diversity. In a bid to address the limited number of female lynxes, Dina reached out to Newquay Zoo and successfully secured the one-year-old female for potential reintroduction into the wild following close monitoring.
The upcoming months will prove crucial as the Newquay lynx undergoes monitoring to evaluate its adaptation to the wild. While catching and killing prey are expected to be natural behaviors, demonstrating a lack of interest in seeking human interaction will be vital for its successful release. Dr. Marco Roller from Karlsruhe zoo emphasizes the importance of avoiding human-animal conflicts in the densely populated central Europe. The final decision on the fate of the Newquay lynx will be made after months of extensive monitoring
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