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Lynx Protection Programme
The Macedonian Ecologists’ Society took photos of the Balkan lynx at the Mavrovo National Park
The Macedonian Ecologists’ Society (MES) has started realizing the second phase of the Balkan lynx protection programme”. By using 4 photo-traps only, they managed to take photos of the Balkan lynx for the first time in Macedonia and on the Balkan Peninsula, which confirmed the fact the lynx is still present in this region. The photo-traps have been placed at the National Park “Mavrovo”, which is the only location the Balkan lynx is believed to be present at. The apparatus is connected to a???? sensor which registers the body temperature of the animals and activates the apparatus. The research started in last year in October and will last until April this year. The photo-traps are located in narrow wood paths, in places where the animal is expected to pass. The main goal of the project is to prevent the further reduction of the lynx population in Macedonia and to help its survival in the present areas that are under protection. Also, the goal is to gather all knowledge in order to design a long-term protective programme and to build capacities that will manage that programme, as well as to create a favorable climate that would contribute to the environmental protection.
The Balkan lynx is 80-105 cm long, 80 cm tall and weighs about 14-16 kg. Its fur is usually spotted; however, there are some without spots. Its most distinctive feature is the ear pillow which can be up to 4 cm long. In comparison with the other representatives of the species, the Balkan lynx is a little smaller, the color of its fur is more intense than those of the Scandinavian lynx, but in comparison with the Carpathian lynx, the color if the fur is less intense. The number of spotless ones is considerably bigger.
“The lynx population which is present in the southwest part of the Balkans, mainly in Macedonia and Albania, has been identified as the most endangered population in whole Europe. According to the experts’ estimations, there are only 30-35 lynxes left in Macedonia. The most serious treat presents the illegal hunting, the destruction and the fragmentation of the lynx habitat, the small reproductive potential and the reduction of the lynx population”, says Dime Meloski from the Macedonian Ecologists’ Association.
After the lynx has been filmed, the project foresees developing a national network that will monitor the lynx, activities for raising the public awareness, preparing a strategy for recovering the lynx population and preparing a national action plan for the lynx. The project has been realized in cooperation with the Swiss organization KORA, the German organization EURONATUR, THE Norwegian NINA and the Albanian PPNEA.
S.N.
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