Magda Sindičić, Associate Professor, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine – University of Zagreb
July 15, 2026 | 15h00 | Hybrid Seminar (Zoom Link)
Central European populations of Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) were established by reintroducing individuals from the Carpathian Mountains. Today, most of those populations are threatened by high inbreeding levels, as a consequence of small founder size and decades of isolation. Several conservation efforts were initiated to improve the genetic and demographic status, with the ultimate goal of creating a viable metapopulation of Carpathian lynx in Europe – spanning from the Carpathian Mountains to the Jura, Western Alps and the Dinaric Mountains. A very successful example of lynx population conservation and management is project entitled “Preventing the extinction of the Dinaric-SE Alpine lynx population through reinforcement and long-term conservation” (LIFE16 NAT/SI/000634), implemented in Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, Romania, and Slovakia in the 2017 -2024 period. Among the 22 translocated wild-caught Carpathian lynx, 68% successfully integrated into the population, and at least 59% reproduced. Rigorous health risk assessment was of primary importance, as diseases may decrease the fitness of translocated animals and threaten the receiving population. Cooperation with local hunters and protected area managers enabled us to conduct multi-year camera-trapping and non-invasive genetic monitoring across a 12,000-km2 transboundary area. Results indicate a reversal in population decline, as the lynx abundance increased for >40% during the 4-year translocation period. Effective inbreeding decreased from 0.32 to 0.08–0.19. Robust partnerships with local communities and hunters, coupled with transparent communication, helped maintain high public and stakeholder support for lynx conservation throughout the translocation efforts. Lessons learned about the importance of stakeholder involvement and multidisciplinary monitoring conducted across several countries provide a successful example for further efforts to restore large carnivores in human-dominated ecosystems.
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