The Balkan lynx (Lynx lynx balcanicus) is a subspecies of the Eurasian lynx. It is considered a national symbol in North Macedonia and appears on the Macedonian five-denar coin. 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 and within the boundaries of the Shebenik-Jabllanice National Park. The lynx is classified as Critically Endangered in Albania and has been protected de jure since 1969 but, despite this, illegal poaching and habitat destruction threatens the remaining Balkan lynx populations in both Albania and North Macedonia.
No
NocturnalNocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
Cr
CrepuscularCrepuscular animals are those that are active primarily during twilight (that is, the periods of dawn and dusk). This is distinguished from diurnal...
Ca
CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
Te
TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
Vi
ViviparousAmong animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
Cu
CursorialA cursorial organism is one that is adapted specifically to run. An animal can be considered cursorial if it has the ability to run fast (e.g. chee...
Am
Ambush predatorAmbush predators are carnivorous animals that capture or trap prey by stealth, luring, or by (typically instinctive) strategies utilizing an elemen...
Te
TerritorialA territory is a sociographical area that which an animal consistently defends against the conspecific competition (or, occasionally, against anima...
Al
AltricialAltricial animals are those species whose newly hatched or born young are relatively immobile. They lack hair or down, are not able to obtain food ...
Po
PolygynyPolygyny is a mating system in which one male lives and mates with multiple females but each female only mates with a single male.
So
SolitaryNo
Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
B
starts withIn general, Eurasian lynxes have a relatively short, reddish, or brown coat that is marked with black spots; their number and pattern are highly variable. Their underparts, neck, and chin are whitish. The fur is more brightly colored with more numerous spots in animals living at the southern end of their range. In winter, it is much thicker and varies from silver-grey to greyish-brown. Some animals have dark brown stripes on the forehead and back. Eurasian lynxes have powerful, relatively long legs, with large webbed and furred paws that act like snowshoes. They also have short "bobbed" tails with an all-black tip, black tufts of hair on their ears, and a long grey-and-white ruff.
Balkan lynxes are found in the southwestern Balkans; in Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and potentially Serbia, Montenegro, and Greece. These animals live in deciduous forests, evergreen forests, mixed forests, and bush habitats. They do not migrate but occasionally hunt in shrublands, cultivated areas, and high-mountain pastures during the summer.
In general, Eurasian lynxes are secretive animals and live mostly solitary lives except for the period of the breeding season and when raising cubs. They occupy territories marked with special gland secretions, urine, or feces. Males have larger territories to have access to one or two females. Males are thought to have territories around 180-2,780 km2 (69-1,073 sq mi). Females are thought to have territories around 98-759 km2 (38-293 sq mi). Mothers and daughters sometimes have greatly overlapping territories. These animals are active during the evening and night and sleep during the day. They are good climbers and sometimes lie in trees and high rocks, watching for prey and ambushing them. Eurasian lynxes produce an unusual variety of vocalizations throughout the breeding season; growls, grunts coughs, and meow-like caterwauling. At other times they are very quiet, though they will mew, growl, hiss purr, and chatter at prey that is out of reach, in the manner of a domestic cat.
Balkan lynxes are carnivores and primarily hunt Roe deer, young chamois, and Brown hare. Eurasian lynxes also hunt pikas, rabbits, Wild boars, and young Red and Fallow deer; they also readily hunt both juvenile and mature individuals of Musk deer or Indian muntjac. Occasionally, lynxes will take domestic livestock or poultry but generally prefer avoiding human habitations.
Generally, Eurasian lynxes are polygynous, meaning that one male mates with more than one female during the mating season which occurs from February to mid-April. Male and female often feed together during this time. Litters can be anywhere from 1 to 5 kittens, with an average of 2 to 3 kittens. A newborn lynx is blind and helpless and weighs about 300 grams. At 3 months, kittens begin following their mother out of the rock cave den to eat meat from her kills. At 10 months, usually around March or April, kittens leave their mothers to be independent.
The most serious threats to the Balkan lynx are the low population size, habitat degradation, and poaching. Poaching affects the Balkan lynxes both directly and indirectly. Hunters that hunt the small wildlife and game indirectly harm the Balkan lynxes by restricting their source of food, such as Roe deer, chamois, and hares. It is illegal to hunt Balkan lynxes but there has been evidence that there is a market for Balkan lynx fur. Also, some stuffed lynxes are seen as decorations in some restaurants in the countryside of Albania and North Macedonia. Sport hunting and ski resorts can disturb the population within the national parks, where the majority of the Balkan lynxes habitat. The degradation of habitat is primarily in Albania, where logging has taken its toll on the environment and negatively affects the Balkan lynx. Albania's forests have been recovering from over-exploitation since the 1800s. Although it is illegal to continue logging in the protected Balkan lynx habitat, it is still done and can potentially destroy the only habitat the Balkan lynx has. Because they have such a low population density, it is difficult for mature adults to mate with each other. The population is separated into two different sub-populations in Albania and North Macedonia, further hindering the mating process. There is a slight worry with the expansion of the native Carpathian and reintroduced Dinaric lynx population that may threaten the genetic integrity of the Balkan lynx population.
According to IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Balkan lynx is only 40-50 individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List.
Eurasian lynxes affect the population size, distribution, and behavior of some of their prey species, particularly Roe deer and chamois.
