Now the time has finally come: today we can inaugurate a new lynx enclosure in Maßweiler. A lynx orphanage, as you might call it. And this has become a matter close to my heart in recent years.
Here in the Palatinate Forest, a species-appropriate enclosure has been created for the professional care and care of lynxes. The remote location of the reception center and the very low contact with people (no visitors) offer ideal conditions for caring for the wild animals as stress-free as possible — and release them back into nature at the appropriate time. And here in the great outdoors of the Palatinate Forest, every single lynx counts.
Why every lynx counts
The Palatinate Forest plays an important role in this networking of individual sub-occurrences into a European networked metapopulation. The first reintroduction attempts began 50 years ago and today there are not many more than 200 lynx roaming through Germany's forests. The lynx spreads very slowly. So every animal counts so that the brush ears can find a permanent home in this country again.
All the more so because Only about half of lynxes survive their first year of life. And of those who survive, only half survive their second year of life. And young lynxes who lose their mother have little chance of survival in the wild. An opportunity that is now offered by the new reception station.
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That's why the new enclosure is so important. Because only then does it exist Possibility to adequately care for lynx orphans who are found without the protection of their mother. Until they are ready for an independent life in the Palatinate Forest. Of course, I would prefer if the enclosure wasn't needed to care for orphan lynxes any time soon. Because every orphan lynx also means that a mother lynx is sick, injured or dead and can no longer look after her offspring herself.
But with the number of lynxes in the Palatinate Forest The probability that lynx orphans will be found also increases. It is all the more important to be prepared for this.
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At this point I would like to thank our WWF lynx sponsors, whose numerous individual donations helped us to be able to inaugurate the enclosure today. I would also like the Postcode Lottery, SANTA Natural Cosmetics and the Leipzig Healthcare Engineering Office, who generously supported the financing of the enclosure. And finally I want ANIMAL SPECIES thank you for your great commitment. They all make it possible for the animals to live here on this site.
The lynx is back
The WWF is committed to the return of the lynx to Germany, especially in the Bavarian Forest and Baden-Württemberg and also as a partner within the framework of the LIFE Luchs Palatinate Forest project, which was recently successfully completed. With the reintroduction of 20 lynxes in Germany's largest forest area, an important milestone was set in order to get a little closer to the vision that all lynx conservationists share.
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