From Prachatice to Linz and on to Novohradské Mountains
13.1.2016, Luchsprojekt Österreich Nordwest, ALKA Wildlife and Friends of the Earth Czech Republic (Hnutí DUHA)
Luchsprojekt Österreich Nordwest, ALKA Wildlife and Friends of the Earth Czech Republic (Hnutí DUHA)
A lynx named Luděk from the Prachatice region (Czech Republic) who last year surprised local people in the forest complex Kürnberger Wald near Linz now appeared as far as the Novohradské Mountains. This (probably young) male is a real adventurer. After overcoming many obstacles on his challenging 70-kilometre-long journey from his home in Prachatice region to Linz last summer, he has now returned back north. He crossed Danube River for the second time and through Austrian towns of Mühlviertel and Waldviertel wandered all the way to the Novohradské Mountains (on the Czech-Austria border).
The route travelled by a lynx named Luděk: In March and April 2015, Luděk was repeatedly recorded in the Prachatice region; in August and September, he was photographed in Kürnberger Wald near Linz; now he is in Novohradské Mountains.
The forest complex Kürnberger Wald near Linz was apparently not suitable for our lynx. It covers an area of only 12 square km, which is not enough for an adult lynx. The typical home territory of a lynx is about 150-400 square kilometres. In addition to that, there are many migration barriers in the Linz area impassable for the animals (shopping centres, airport, industrial zones, etc.).
On his way from Prachatice to Linz last summer, Luděk must have crossed a busy road connecting the popular holiday areas on the left bank of Lipno Dam; he also bypassed several towns, and either swum across the Danube River or crossed it on the bridge.
The entire Czech-Bavarian-Austrian population of Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) amounts to only 60-80 individuals.
As Tereza Mináriková, an expert on large carnivores' conservation of ALKA Wildlife puts it:
"This number (60-80) is not sufficient for the long-term survival of a population. It is, therefore, necessary to protect not only the core area in the Šumava mountain range but also the related peripheral regions to preserve the large forest complexes, where the lynx would have enough space and peace to bring up their young."
"We do not know the exact route which Luděk took, but it is obvious that he made a very long and dangerous journey. One of the obstacles he had to overcome is a new Austrian expressway S10. His story emphasizes the need to maintain the landscape permeability for wildlife as much as for people."
Josefa Volfová, an expert on large carnivores' conservation of Friends of the Earth Czech Republic, added:
"We would not have been able to reconstruct the entire route which Luděk travelled without the co-operation of many people - Czech and Austrian environmentalists, the volunteer participants of Lynx Patrols, gamekeepers and foresters. We are pleased that such co-operation is developing and that it generates valuable results."
Translation from press release: Martina Dušková
