Lynx migrates from Saxony

07.03.2025

The female lynx Nova is one of five lynxes that have been released into the wild in the Westerzgebirge as part of the ReLynx Saxony project. Nova is a wild caught lynx from the Swiss Jura and is estimated to be between 4 and 7 years old. Since her release into the wild in March 2024, she had established a territory in the Eibenstock Forest in Saxony. Then, surprisingly, she travelled a distance of over 150 km and migrated to Thuringia at the end of December 2024. The lynx’s migration and whereabouts can be easily tracked using the data from her transmitter collar. She is currently in the greater Jena area.

Normally, female lynx in particular have a rather conservative dispersal behaviour and find it difficult to overcome habitat barriers. The dangers during migration are great and many lynx die during the migration. However, Nova shows that such long migrations and the crossing of several motorways are also possible for females. From a genetic diversity perspective, such migrations are important.

It remains to be seen whether Nova will settle in the Jena area in the long term or whether this is just a temporary territory (stopover).

It remains to be seen whether Nova will settle in the Jena area in the long term or whether this is just a temporary territory (stopover).
The ReLynx Saxony and Luchs Thüringen projects operate at the level of the respective federal states, but they share the goal of a connected lynx population across borders. At an early stage of the two projects, lynx Nova is already demonstrating that such a connection is possible.