Balkan lynx

Balkan lynx
A Balkan lynx in the Zoopark Tirana, Albania
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Feliformia
Family: Felidae
Subfamily: Felinae
Genus: Lynx
Species:
L. lynx
Subspecies:
L. l. balcanicus
Trinomial name
Lynx lynx balcanicus
Bures, 1941
Synonyms
Lynx lynx martinoi (Miric, 1978)

The Balkan lynx (Lynx lynx balcanicus)[2] is a subspecies of the Eurasian lynx in the genus Lynx.[3][4] It is found in Albania, Kosovo and western North Macedonia, with smaller populations in Montenegro.[5][6][7] It is considered a national symbol in North Macedonia[8] and appears on the 5-denar coin.[9]

It is believed that in North Macedonia there are from 35 to 40 remaining Balkan lynx, mostly found in Mavrovo National Park.[10] This cat is considered to be the largest cat in the Balkans. It has been sighted in 2011 and 2012 in the northern mountainous region of Albania[11] and within the boundaries of the Shebenik-Jabllanice National Park.[12] The lynx is classified as Critically Endangered in Albania and has been protected de jure since 1969 but, despite this, poaching and habitat destruction threatens the remaining Balkan lynx populations in both Albania and North Macedonia.[13] There are an estimated 15-20 individuals still alive in Albania.[14] The Balkan lynx has been on the brink of extinction for nearly a century, with total numbers estimated to be fewer than 50.[5]

The Balkan lynxes' decrease in number have been thought to be due to illegal poaching.[15] The Balkan lynx starts mating around January to February, and gives birth in April.[16] While the Balkan lynx is listed as a subspecies in much of the news coverage and taxonomic references, there has been some dispute over those claims.[17][18][page needed]

  1. ^ Melovski, D.; Breitenmoser, U.; von Arx, M.; Breitenmoser-Würsten, C.; Lanz, T. (2016) [errata version of 2015 assessment]. "Lynx lynx ssp. balcanicus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T68986842A87999432. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T68986842A68986849.en.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference r17 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference r1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference r2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b "IUCN/SSC - Cat Specialist Group - Balkan Lynx Compendium". Retrieved 10 May 2014. A fragmented population of probably less than 50 individuals remains in western Macedonia and eastern Albania.
  6. ^ "Balkan lynx filmed in Montenegrin Hajla: The long-awaited "meeting" with the forest phantom". Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  7. ^ "Balkan Lynx Recovery Programme 2006-2009". Archived from the original on 27 November 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2014. The present population of the Balkan lynx - described as an own subspecies Lynx lynx balcanicus - is estimated to be less than 100 individuals which are distributed in Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro and Kosovo.
  8. ^ "Action urged to save Balkan lynx". BBC News. 3 November 2006. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  9. ^ Evans, Thammy (2004). Macedonia (4th ed.). Chalfont St. Peter: Bradt Travel Guides. p. 10. ISBN 9781841623955.
  10. ^ "Промоција на балканскиот рис - симбол на дивината во Македонија". Archived from the original on 8 November 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  11. ^ "IUCN/SSC - Cat Specialist Group - Balkan Lynx Compendium". Retrieved 10 May 2014. The Association for the Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania (PPNEA) is pleased to inform you that on April 21st, 2012, the field researchers Aleksandёr Trajçe and Bledi Hoxha, got the second photo of a Balkan lynx (Lynx lynx balcanicus) living in the wild in Albania. The picture was taken by means of camera-trapping devices, on March 28th 2012, at 08:33 AM, in the northern mountainous region of Albania.
  12. ^ "KORA: Home : Programmierung: Netboot Internet Solutions". Kora.ch. Archived from the original on 10 June 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  13. ^ "The second Balkan lynx picture in Albania" (PDF). Retrieved 10 May 2014. The species is classified in the Albanian Red List (Decree no. 146 / 2007, Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Water Administration) with the status CR (critically endangered).
  14. ^ "sociation for the Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania" (PDF). Retrieved 10 May 2014. Recent expert based estimates indicate that the lynx population in Albania is no more than 15 - 20 remaining individuals.
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference r3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  16. ^ "Balkan Lynx Field Handbook" (PDF). 1.nina.no. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 January 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  17. ^ Cite error: The named reference r4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  18. ^ Cite error: The named reference r5 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).