Two new lynxes in the Thuringian Forest: Step into a green future

Two new lynxes in the Thuringian Forest: Step into a green future

gratifying progress in species protection: Luchse in the Thuringian Forest conquer their homeland

In the Thuringian Forest, an important species protection project has found accesses, the positive effects of which are not only important for the wildlife, but also for the local community. The project "Luchs Thuringia - Europe's Luchse", which runs until 2027, aims to stabilize and network the population of Luchsen in Germany and Central Europe. At this initiative, two young Luchse, Vreni and Kilian, were recently released into freedom.

The release of the two lynxes that come from a conservation breeding program is an important step towards a healthy lynx population. Your admission to the Thuringian Forest, where experts are carefully prepared, shows the commitment of numerous institutions. This cooperation, which includes the BUND Thuringia, WWF Germany and local forest authorities, underlines the community initiative to restore a stable animal population.

As Environment Minister Bernhard Stengele emphasizes, the progress of the project is not only a sign of successful release measures, but also for the return of the lynx as part of the ecosystem. The Luchse Frieda and Viorel, which had already been released in May 2024, have also settled in well, as the GPS data show. Your movements in the forest and the detection of prey show that you can find your way around your new environment. The behavior of the animals makes it optimistic that the population in the region can grow sustainably.

A joyful surprise for the project managers was the recently documented lynx with young animals. This has been the first proven reproduction in the Thuringian Forest for over 150 years. Such a successful reproduction indicates that the living conditions for lynxes in the region are favorable. Jürgen Boddenberg, head of the Waldnaturschutz area, sees this development proof of the effectiveness of the measures carried out.

with only 2.9 million euros in state support and the help of European funds, the “Luchs Thuringia” project also shows how important international cooperation in nature conservation is. It is part of the European network to network lynx populations that combine lynxes as hiking animals in different habitats.

This initiative not only affects the animal world, but also on the local population. The return of the lynx could lead to an increase in ecotourism in spring 2024, which in turn would benefit the regional economy. It is an opportunity for local people to rediscover their nature and actively contribute to species protection.

Finally, it can be said that the “Luchs Thuringia” project is an example of successful species protection, which shows how, through cooperation, commitment and research, an important step towards restoring biological diversity can be taken. The noticeable positive effects on the ecosystem are observed by both experts and the community.