Palatinate Forest: Lynx Relocation Complete

With Lycka and Tarda, the project's goal of relocating a total of 20 lynxes to the Palatinate Forest has been achieved!

Twelve of the lynxes come from Switzerland.

Both female lynxes were brought by their respective capture teams, consisting of wildlife wardens and veterinarians, to the quarantine station at the Goldau Nature and Animal Park after being caught. The female lynx Lycka was captured in the canton of Neuchâtel, while lynx Tarda comes from the canton of Vaud. Lycka was born in 2011 and weighs just over 20 kg, making her an experienced and robust animal. Tarda's year of birth is unknown, but based on her condition she appears to be a relatively young animal.

On Friday morning, both animals underwent a final health check by veterinarians from the Centre for Fish and Wildlife Medicine (FIWI) at the University of Bern, before being transported to the Palatinate Forest by the lynx team of the Rhineland-Palatinate Nature and Environment Foundation. Lycka and Tarda were released into their new home near Waldleiningen. In light of the current pandemic, the release took place without spectators, external photographers, or press.

Like all other lynxes released in the Palatinate Forest, Lycka and Tarda are fitted with GPS collar transmitters so that their movements can be tracked. The GPS data transmitted by the collars feeds into home range maps for the lynxes, which are published at regular intervals on the project website published.

Minister Ulrike Höfken congratulates all partners involved in the project on the successful completion of the relocations: “In 2016, we were delighted along with our sponsors about the arrival of the first lynxes. Four years later, we are pleased that with Lycka and Tarda, the desired number of 20 lynxes for reintroduction in the Palatinate Forest could be released. The lynxes and their offspring have already explored large areas of the Palatinate Forest. Following their release in the northern Palatinate Forest, the animals are increasingly spreading southward. We are confident that this fascinating feline species, after its extermination in the 18th century, will once again permanently establish itself in the Palatinate Forest and beyond, in harmony with all stakeholders.“