Lynx's and zoo size

[foz]

why is it that only small collections (like curragh's, camperdown, newquay etc) seem to have lynx's and yet none of the major big zoos (like chester, edinburgh, paignton etc) don't seem to want to have lynx's?

 

[James27]

Maybe because they want to exhibit rarer cats? I'm not sure though, although it is true.

 

[chizlit]

Don't know because they are beautiful to look at, but I guess I'm lucky because Dudley also has them so I can see them in two local places, plus Jen keeps them just up the road in Staffs (Gentlesaw Wildlife centre), which I must visit soon....

 

[redpanda]

Port Lympne have them and you don't get much bigger than that

London also used to, but I think that they are gone now.

Having said that, they are certainly rare in the large zoos which is strange as, unlike most other small cats, they are not particularly shy and are certainly impressive animals.

One explanation could be that they don't fit into the common zones (where is there a "Taiga Forest" exhibit), however, most zoos in this country are not arranged in this way and several large zoos have Amur Tigers and Leopards...

 

[tetrapod]

Port Lympne have them and you don't get much bigger than that

London also used to, but I think that they are gone now.

Having said that, they are certainly rare in the large zoos which is strange as, unlike most other small cats, they are not particularly shy and are certainly impressive animals.

One explanation could be that they don't fit into the common zones (where is there a "Taiga Forest" exhibit), however, most zoos in this country are not arranged in this way and several large zoos have Amur Tigers and Leopards...

I concur with your points. The big zoos with strong focus on conservation tend towards firstly large cats and secondly endangered small cats. That said there are few species of small cats in UK captivity, with only servals, pallas cats and wild cats (apart from European lynx) that one tends to see. Occasionally margays, ocelots, Geoffroy's cats, fishing cats and sand cats turn up, but they seem to derive from a very small genetic base and so there is little incentive to breed/keep.

It is a real pity that more interest is made of lynx, particularly with the latest EAZA/BIAZA campaign being on European carnivores. And they do display very well, compared to most small felids.

 

[Zambar]

The New Forest Otter and Owl Park were expecting a female lynx to replace their late male Oden a couple of months ago, but I visited yesterday and she's either off-show or not yet arrived. Which is a shame, as their exhibit is the biggest and best lynx enclosure I've seen.

And Marwell used to keep Northern Lynx from when they opened in '72 till 2001. I'm personally hoping Siberian subspecies will be kept in the planned Taiga Forest biome, but then that's down to the zoo management.

 

[kiang]

If Iberian lynx were to become available to the EEP or EAZA collections, then you would see a few of the so-called bigger zoos, tripping over themselves to get hold of those extremely rare and handsome cats

 

[Vulpes]

Highland wildlife park have Carpathian lynx (Lynx lynx carpathicus) I think other lynx species are just not rare enough to keep in larger zoos and compared to a bigger cat are not really crowd pullers. however smaller collections that do not have the room but would still like a "Big" cat species, the lynx proves ideal not too big and dont eat as much as a lion. I agree Re: the Iberian lynx..... Hopefully they can breed their numbers up soon

 

[Pertinax]

The big zoos with strong focus on conservation tend towards firstly large cats and secondly endangered small cats.

And looking at it from the smaller zoos' point of view- Lynx are 'safer' and less expensive to keep and build exhibits for than big cats, and are also easy to obtain and also show themselves well.

 

[bongorob]

The New Forest Otter and Owl Park were expecting a female lynx to replace their late male Oden a couple of months ago, but I visited yesterday and she's either off-show or not yet arrived. Which is a shame, as their exhibit is the biggest and best lynx enclosure I've seen.

And Marwell used to keep Northern Lynx from when they opened in '72 till 2001. I'm personally hoping Siberian subspecies will be kept in the planned Taiga Forest biome, but then that's down to the zoo management.

Oden came from Chester in 1999 when the cat house was demolished. His new home was a much better enclosure. Chester could have lynx back again in the future.

Siberian lynx are now often lumped with the European Lynx in a single subspecies.

 

[Zambar]

Have you seen the New Forest lynx enclosure? Fantastic, two acres in size the only downside being the difficulty in spotting him! Oden did indeed have luxury in his final years, and it's a shame they've blocked the path to the enclosure till the new lynx are settled in there.

 

[JamesB]

Have you seen the New Forest lynx enclosure? Fantastic, two acres in size the only downside being the difficulty in spotting him! Oden did indeed have luxury in his final years, and it's a shame they've blocked the path to the enclosure till the new lynx are settled in there.

How many have arrived or is it just a lone female?