Lynx lynx is a giant wild cat, weighing as much as some cheetahs, from 20 to 30 kg.
The snow lynx includes the Eurasian lynx, the Iberian lynx, the Canadian lynx, and the North American lynx. Snow lynxes are generally characterized by a short tail, large feet for walking on snow, often a tuft of black hair on the tips of the ears and a curled mane below the neck. They live in high-altitude forests with dense shrubs, grasses and reeds and often choose to rest in rocky crevices or under rocky edges. This lynx is usually solitary, although small groups of lynx are sometimes seen hunting together. Although the snow lynx hunts only on the ground, it climbs and swims quite well. They mate in winter, and give birth to 2-4 lynx cubs in a year.
This cat eats a variety of animals, usually birds, small mammals, fish, sheep or goats, but sometimes large species such as reindeer, deer, and chamois. Their favorite food is wild rabbits. Despite its large body, the lynx often avoids humans. It is rare for them to attack people, even in defense. A beautiful and powerful cat, the snow lynx has become the inspiration for many paintings. Unfortunately, due to being hunted for their fur, they have become endangered in many habitats.
The Eurasian lynx (lynx lynx) has been considered extinct in the wild in Slovenia and Croatia since the early 20th century, but a conservation project started in 1973 has been successful. Currently, the Eurasian lynx can be found in the Slovenian Alps and the Gorski Kotar and Velebit regions of Croatia. In these two countries, the lynx is an endangered species and is protected by law. Since the 1990s, there have been many efforts to restore and develop the Eurasian lynx in Germany.
The critically endangered species is the Iberian lynx that lives in southern Spain and was previously found in eastern Portugal. Scientists have only recorded 80 wild Iberian lynx extant in the world. Archaeological excavations in the Iberian peninsula (the southwesternmost tip of Europe) show that the lynx is common in this archipelago. The island tribes consider the lynx to be monsters with supernatural powers, capable of connecting with the afterlife. In the early 20th century, they were also popular in Spain, with an estimated number of 100,000 fish. body, living on an area of about 60,000 square kilometers. However, by 1960, the number of Iberian lynx had dropped to 10,000 individuals and they were threatened with extinction in 2000 when only 36 individuals remained.
It took the efforts of scientists, the new Iberian lynx species increased to 80 individuals as it is now.
The terrible decline is due to hunting for feathers. The destruction of the environment, the expansion of agriculture, also caused this species to decline.
In addition, the decline of rabbits, the lynx's main food, has also brought them to the brink of extinction. Scientists have carefully studied the habits and found that, 80-100% of the food in their lifetime is rabbits.
