Lynx could be first UK zoo-born cat freed into the wild

A lynx born in a zoo in Cornwall could become the first cat born in the United Kingdom Zoo in being successful released in nature.

Animals born and raised in zoos are rarely consulted for liberation, or do not have survival skills or have become too accustomed to human interaction.

But the shortage of female linxas ​​in the European reproduction program led to the unusual application for the Newquay zoo cat.

He has moved Bone to the black of Germany, where he will spend the next months being monitored in an enclosure to see if it depends on the challenge.

This week, the BBC observed that, with the help of a judicious impulse with a broom, the Newquay Lynx was loaded into a truck directed to southwest Germany.

Two days later, we were in Germany, since it became a enclosure of 1,200 square meters. John Meek of the Newquay Zoo was also present to see Lynx walking cautiously to his new home.

“I am a big boy but I had some tears in my eyes,” he said. “Today, SOOs are not here to keep animals in the cages. They are there for conservation. And this is all, conservation in action.”

Thousands of Lynx already wander wild in European forests, but efforts are being made to introduce new cats to increase their genetic diversity, particularly in central Europe.

Thought is not official classified as a “great cat” Eurasian Lynx can weigh up to 30 kilos and hunt deer to eat.

Once native to the United Kingdom, they were driven to extinction hundreds of years and with the populations of British deer at record levels, there have been called their reintroduction.

“Basically, I am Tinder for the Lynx born in the zoo,” says Dina Gebhardt of Bern Animal Park with a smile when I speak to him in Zoom.

It was she who sent the SOS for the Newquay Lynx.

The Lince Wood Coordinator for the European Endangered Species Program (EEP), coincides with females and males throughout the continent, in addition to finding new houses for their descendants.

“Our nature is very fragmented, due to railroads, streets and cities. And this means that we create many barriers to Lynx, which leads to the entrance,” says Dina.

To fight that Dina finds a young captive lynx that can be in nature to increase numbers and improve genetic mixture. In general, Dina’s lynx have been raised since birth with the minimum of human contact, specifically with liberation in mind.

But last year, for Dina’s frustration, there was a particularly high number or male linxes born. And a successful collection program needs women much more than men.

Then Dina approached the Newquay Zoo to ask them if her one -year -old woman could be available.

“Or the course we said yes immediately, that is something we would love to do,” says John Meek, the curator of plants and animals in the Newquay Zoo.

Around the coming months, the LYNX will be monitored to see if it has the necessary skills to survive in nature. It is not expected to catch and kill prey is a problem.

“If you know your cats, you know that only a cat that has lived in a room is a lifetime, once it goes out it is able to kill a bird or a mouse,” Eva Klebelsberg, who directs the Lynx Reinduction Program for Baden-WürttttTTemberg.

We are standing on the body of a roe deer in the black forest on the outskirts of Karlsruhe. There is a small population of lynxes that already live in the forest and this is one of their murders.

There are puncture marks in your throat, a safe sign.

“Our ecosystems in Europe lack large predators,” says Eva, explaining that Lynx helps control deer populations, as well as ensuring that they continue moving and did not strip the wooded areas.

The key question in relation to Newquay Lynx is likely to be their relationship with humans. After having spent his whole life looking at bars to visitors and bees fed by the guardian, he must show that he will not look for more human interaction.

“Central Europe is very full and we don’t have many places where there is enough space for larger animals.” Dr. Marco Roller of the Karlsruhe Zoo, who manages the enclosure says.

“We do not do it because human animals conflict. So, for us, it is important that we do not have aggressive animals or curious animals that can walk through cities or near human settlements.”

The final decision on the destiny of the Newquay Lynx will be tasks later in the summer after several months of nearby monitoring.