This is a translated article.
"The short list of good things that happened in Poland in 2020 can certainly include the release of 19 individuals of lowland lynx into our forests. According to WWF Polska, in addition to lynxes released from acclimatisation enclosures, nature was joined by 9 cubs cats born from lynxes released by ZTP in previous years. This is good news for this species, which numbers only about 150 individuals in Poland.
Lynxes born in a pandemic
In 2020, as many as four lynxes previously released from adaptation aviaries in the Wild Farm of the West Pomeranian Society of Nature (ZTP) gave birth to young in the wild. Rózia gave birth to the largest number of young, giving birth to three cubs. Two cubs each were born to Grett, Nelly and Cleo. How well young mothers coped in their new roles could be confirmed due to the GPS transmitters with which all individuals reintroduced at ZTP have been equipped since 2019. The young born in the wild can, in turn, be caught and also equipped with telemetry collars to protect them better. Unfortunately, one of the mothers - Nelly, who lived a year ago near Trzcianka - was found dead near Wapniarnia. The results of the autopsy showed that the cause of death was acute bowel disease. It could be caused by poisoning, bacteria, viruses or diseases transmitted by domestic cats outside, with which lynxes unfortunately come into contact.
Following the footsteps of lynxes
While we were forced to stay at home due to the coronavirus pandemic, lynxes traveled their best. Thanks to the readings from the collars, we were able to analyze the peculiar path of trips they went on. One of the cats - Mira - unlike her friends, instead of motherhood, she devoted herself to impressive journeys. After being released from the adaptation enclosure where she had grown up, she almost immediately walked north in a straight line, then turned 180 ͦ south. In the vicinity of Lower Silesia, it crossed the border with Germany, and we learned from the local nature protection services that she was in Bavaria. This is a unique phenomenon because it is located in an area inhabited by Carpathian lynxes. The lynx Łopuch, in turn, reached the Polish-Ukrainian-Belarusian border, and the lynx Pako ended up in the north of the country, then changed his mind and crossed the border with Germany. The lynx Grzybiarz went to Kashubia, and Caesar decided to visit the vicinity of Władysławowo and ... live in the dunes.
The mysterious story of Caesar
Caesar, on the occasion of his wanderings, caused all observers a lot of fear. His collar was transmitting unusual data - points came from one place, which usually means something bad is going on. The caretakers decided to make sure that the lynx was okay and checked the place indicated by the signal on the map. After searching the area, it turned out that the broken collar was lying on the ground, and the animal… was gone. It was a very puzzling situation because it was not known what really happened. However, less than a month after the search in the field, ZTP received an e-mail with the information that a lynx was moving north of Lębork, where the collar was found. The photographed specimen did not have a GPS device on, but the collected data: the routes followed by the missing animal, photos sent and messages obtained after the interview by an employee of the Choczewo Forest District allowed to identify the mysterious lynx and it turned out that it was ... Caesar! The male was doing great in the wild, so it was decided that there was no need to put him under the stress of putting on the collar again. The individual is therefore currently being observed in the field.
The way to return the lynx
The WWF Foundation has been supporting the restoration of the lynx to Poland since 2007. First, in Masuria, thanks to the "born to be free" method, about 30 cats joined nature. Currently, the foundation supports the project "Returning to North-West Poland", thanks to which, from several enclosures in the province. of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, a total of 49 individuals were released. As part of this project, adult lynxes from zoos or young born in pens are released into nature. In both cases, lynxes spend some time in an adaptive enclosure, where they are under the constant, but discreet, care of specialists. Lynx must have as little contact with humans as possible for the reintroduction process to be successful, i.e. for the animals to become independent. In 2020, two new adaptation pens were built with an area of approx. 1.5 ha. Currently, there are 3 lynxes in the pens: Luna and Wąsata with a kitten (Wąsatka).
Discreet as a lynx
Although it is almost impossible to meet a lynx in the forest, it is worth knowing that there are two populations of this species in Poland - Carpathian and Baltic. You can recognize them just by their appearance. The specimens inhabiting the north-eastern part of Poland have fawn coats, sometimes almost uniform, with sparse spots on the legs and sides. Lynx from the Carpathian population are characterized by a very distinct, spotted pattern formed by various shapes of spots and stripes on a yellow-reddish background. Tufts of hair on the ears and a short black tail are characteristic of all lynxes. In addition, they have one more thing in common - the threats they face. If you want to help, you can symbolically adopt a lynx, thus supporting the activities of the WWF Poland Foundation aimed at rebuilding the population of this species. If you cannot help financially, please share the lynx information with your friends.
"The short list of good things that happened in Poland in 2020 can certainly include the release of 19 individuals of lowland lynx into our forests. According to WWF Polska, in addition to lynxes released from acclimatisation enclosures, nature was joined by 9 cubs cats born from lynxes released by ZTP in previous years. This is good news for this species, which numbers only about 150 individuals in Poland.
Lynxes born in a pandemic
In 2020, as many as four lynxes previously released from adaptation aviaries in the Wild Farm of the West Pomeranian Society of Nature (ZTP) gave birth to young in the wild. Rózia gave birth to the largest number of young, giving birth to three cubs. Two cubs each were born to Grett, Nelly and Cleo. How well young mothers coped in their new roles could be confirmed due to the GPS transmitters with which all individuals reintroduced at ZTP have been equipped since 2019. The young born in the wild can, in turn, be caught and also equipped with telemetry collars to protect them better. Unfortunately, one of the mothers - Nelly, who lived a year ago near Trzcianka - was found dead near Wapniarnia. The results of the autopsy showed that the cause of death was acute bowel disease. It could be caused by poisoning, bacteria, viruses or diseases transmitted by domestic cats outside, with which lynxes unfortunately come into contact.
Following the footsteps of lynxes
While we were forced to stay at home due to the coronavirus pandemic, lynxes traveled their best. Thanks to the readings from the collars, we were able to analyze the peculiar path of trips they went on. One of the cats - Mira - unlike her friends, instead of motherhood, she devoted herself to impressive journeys. After being released from the adaptation enclosure where she had grown up, she almost immediately walked north in a straight line, then turned 180 ͦ south. In the vicinity of Lower Silesia, it crossed the border with Germany, and we learned from the local nature protection services that she was in Bavaria. This is a unique phenomenon because it is located in an area inhabited by Carpathian lynxes. The lynx Łopuch, in turn, reached the Polish-Ukrainian-Belarusian border, and the lynx Pako ended up in the north of the country, then changed his mind and crossed the border with Germany. The lynx Grzybiarz went to Kashubia, and Caesar decided to visit the vicinity of Władysławowo and ... live in the dunes.
The mysterious story of Caesar
Caesar, on the occasion of his wanderings, caused all observers a lot of fear. His collar was transmitting unusual data - points came from one place, which usually means something bad is going on. The caretakers decided to make sure that the lynx was okay and checked the place indicated by the signal on the map. After searching the area, it turned out that the broken collar was lying on the ground, and the animal… was gone. It was a very puzzling situation because it was not known what really happened. However, less than a month after the search in the field, ZTP received an e-mail with the information that a lynx was moving north of Lębork, where the collar was found. The photographed specimen did not have a GPS device on, but the collected data: the routes followed by the missing animal, photos sent and messages obtained after the interview by an employee of the Choczewo Forest District allowed to identify the mysterious lynx and it turned out that it was ... Caesar! The male was doing great in the wild, so it was decided that there was no need to put him under the stress of putting on the collar again. The individual is therefore currently being observed in the field.
The way to return the lynx
The WWF Foundation has been supporting the restoration of the lynx to Poland since 2007. First, in Masuria, thanks to the "born to be free" method, about 30 cats joined nature. Currently, the foundation supports the project "Returning to North-West Poland", thanks to which, from several enclosures in the province. of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, a total of 49 individuals were released. As part of this project, adult lynxes from zoos or young born in pens are released into nature. In both cases, lynxes spend some time in an adaptive enclosure, where they are under the constant, but discreet, care of specialists. Lynx must have as little contact with humans as possible for the reintroduction process to be successful, i.e. for the animals to become independent. In 2020, two new adaptation pens were built with an area of approx. 1.5 ha. Currently, there are 3 lynxes in the pens: Luna and Wąsata with a kitten (Wąsatka).
Discreet as a lynx
Although it is almost impossible to meet a lynx in the forest, it is worth knowing that there are two populations of this species in Poland - Carpathian and Baltic. You can recognize them just by their appearance. The specimens inhabiting the north-eastern part of Poland have fawn coats, sometimes almost uniform, with sparse spots on the legs and sides. Lynx from the Carpathian population are characterized by a very distinct, spotted pattern formed by various shapes of spots and stripes on a yellow-reddish background. Tufts of hair on the ears and a short black tail are characteristic of all lynxes. In addition, they have one more thing in common - the threats they face. If you want to help, you can symbolically adopt a lynx, thus supporting the activities of the WWF Poland Foundation aimed at rebuilding the population of this species. If you cannot help financially, please share the lynx information with your friends.