Lynx offspring in the Thuringian Forest

08.10.2026

Good news from the Thuringian Forest: Last week, one of our camera traps captured an image of the female lynx Vreni with a cub. We believe it is highly likely that the male lynx Ionel is the father. This would mark the first time that two animals released into the wild as part of the project have produced offspring together.
The photo was taken south of Ilmenau, where Vreni has had her territory since her release two years ago. Ionel has also settled in this region. Both animals were seen together in camera trap images taken during the mating season.
Vreni had already given birth to two cubs last year. This litter was documented by camera trap images in February and March 2026. The father of the cubs born in 2025 is unknown.
Vreni comes from the Zurich Wildlife Park; Ionel arrived in Thuringia a year and a half ago as a wild-caught animal from the Romanian Carpathians.