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Lynx offspring in the Erzgebirge: Alva gives birth to two cubs!
On October 28, 2025, lynx cubs were spotted in the Westerzgebirge, Saxony, for the first time in 300 years. This is part of the “Relynx Saxony” project.
Lynx offspring in the Erzgebirge: Alva gives birth to two cubs!
Exciting news for animal lovers and nature lovers from Saxony: On October 28, 2025, lynx offspring were spotted in the Western Ore Mountains for the first time in almost 300 years. The State Office for the Environment, Agriculture and Geology (LfULG) reported on a female lynx named Alva who gave birth to two healthy young animals. This news marks another significant step in efforts to reintroduce the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) to this region.
Alva was released into the wild from Switzerland in the Eibenstock Forest in spring 2024. She had previously suffered from a disease that put the animal world in Switzerland on alert: contagious feline leukemia. Despite this health challenge, Alva now appears robust and current observations indicate that her offspring are well-nourished and uninfected. The two six-month-old lynx cubs will continue to be monitored using wildlife cameras to ensure their well-being.
Conservation projects for the lynx population
The return of the lynx is not a coincidence, but the result of targeted projects. The “Relynx Sachsen” project, which has been running since 2023, aims to settle lynx in the Ore Mountains and connect them with existing populations in Bavaria, the Harz Mountains and Eastern Europe. These measures are necessary because the lynx in Germany lives in isolated populations and statistically only half of the lynx reach their second year of life. Healthy offspring is therefore crucial for the long-term preservation of these majestic predators.
Fortunately, after the encouraging report about Alva and her offspring, there were also indications of other return projects in Germany. In Bavaria, for example, the lynx population is supported through various release projects. Only 95 lynx currently live there, and only 11 of them have offspring, which highlights the challenges of reintroduction.
Obstacles and future prospects
The return of the lynx faces special challenges. In Bavaria and Saxony, a natural return of the lynx is unlikely due to their preferences and the existing infrastructure in the forests. Not only are these animals poor hikers, but they are also vulnerable to the dangers of heavy traffic. However, monitoring in the country and support from various organizations have shown that targeted reintroduction projects are necessary to guarantee the genetic diversity and continued existence of the species.
The current focus is not only on Alva and her young animals, but also on creating a stable habitat for the lynxes. Project partners such as BUND Thuringia and WWF Germany are working to connect lynx populations and preserve them in the long term.
The development in the Western Ore Mountains offers hope and motivation for nature conservation projects in Germany. Successful offspring is a positive indicator for the future of the lynx - and not only the animal world benefits from this, but also the entire ecology of the region.
Anyone who would like to receive more information about the Luchs project can do so at MDR, [Luchs Saxony].