For the first time in 300 years: Lynx Alva gives birth to young animals in Saxony!

For the first time in 300 years: Lynx Alva gives birth to young animals in Saxony!

A significant milestone for the Luchs project in Saxony has been reached: the project team from RELynx Saxony has seen pictures of lynx Alva and her two cubs. This exciting discovery marks the first lynx reproduction in Saxony in almost 300 years. Alva was released into the wild in the Eibenstock Forest in March 2024, and her offspring is a strong sign of the successful reintroduction project. The Saxon State Office for the Environment, Agriculture and Geology in Dresden has officially confirmed this good news.

The sightings in the Western Ore Mountains, which are increasingly establishing themselves as a suitable habitat for lynxes, give rise to hope that the return of these shy cats to the Saxon forests could be permanent. According to the GPS data, Alva spent three days with a possible father of the cubs, the male lynx Chapo, who was released into the wild in 2024. This period falls into the mating season, which ends in early April. Many hope that Chapo and Alva will help create a stable lynx population in the Ore Mountains that can provide important genetic diversity.

The return of the lynx

Historically, the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) was once widespread across much of Europe, but over the centuries it has been almost completely eradicated due to persecution and destruction of its habitat. The last lynx that was documented to have been killed in Saxony was in 1743. It was not until 1956 that a lynx was spotted again when it migrated from Bohemia to Saxony. Since then, the reintroduction of the lynx in Germany has been a continuous process that is still ongoing today. Over 100 adults can be found in three isolated populations: Harz, Bavarian Forest and Palatinate Forest.

The RELynx project in Saxony aims to improve this population and connect lynx populations throughout Germany. On average, women only give birth to two young dogs per year, which makes the rarity and special protection of these animals all the more urgent. The project is not just local, but part of a Germany-wide strategy to create habitats for the lynx and ensure genetic diversity. There are already reintroduction projects in other federal states such as Baden-Württemberg and Thuringia.

The development of the young animals

Alva's cubs are monitored using wildlife cameras, which shows how seriously the team takes the development of these animals. During their first months of life, lynx cubs learn a lot from their mother. They follow Alva to the prey and begin their first attempts at hunting. Interestingly, the male Chapo plays no role in raising the young animals - that is Anora's job alone. About half of lynx cubs reach the age of two, which is an important number for the survival of the species.

This progress in the reintroduction project will not only strengthen the lynx population in Saxony, but will also take an important step towards promoting biological diversity in Germany's forests. To achieve this, the conservation status of the lynx is of great importance and is monitored regularly. Measures to improve the living space are therefore essential.

We can only hope that Alva and her young animals will develop well and that many more lynxes will follow, not only inhabiting the Saxon forests, but also enlivening them.