Lynx poached in the Jura
In the Franches-Montagnes region of the Jura, a young lynx was killed with lead pellets from a shotgun. The environmental authority condemns the poaching in the strongest possible terms.
Near the municipality of Bémont in the Franches-Montagnes, a dead lynx was discovered last Sunday. The autopsy is conclusive: the animal fell victim to a shooting with lead pellets.
The carcass of the predator, a young female, was handed over to specialists at the Centre for Wildlife Medicine in Bern. X-ray imaging revealed the presence of approximately twenty lead pellets from a hobby hunter's shotgun in the body of the wild animal. The Canton of Jura regards this as evidence of the intentional nature of the shooting, which corroborated the wildlife warden's initial assessment after his first examination.
Canton of Jura condemns the act
The environmental authority deeply regrets and condemns this act in the strongest possible terms, considering it to be extremely serious.
Lynxes are strictly protected under the Bern Convention and the Hunting Act.
Canton of Jura
The last such case of poaching was 20 years ago, and there had been the impression that the predator was well accepted within the ecosystem.
Criminal investigation launched
A criminal investigation has been launched to determine the circumstances and identify the perpetrator. Anyone who may be able to provide information or who noticed certain things in the area on 24 October (l’étang des Royes, sur la commune du Bémont) is asked to contact the environmental authority directly at 032 420 48 00. Such cases of wildlife crime are unfortunately not uncommon, as numerous documented hunting myths demonstrate.
