Lynx Ionel released into the wild

11.04.2025

On Thursday evening, 10 April, the ‘’ Luchs Thüringen – Europas Luchse vernetzen‘’ project team successfully released another lynx into the wild in the Thuringian Forest. The male lynx, named Ionel, will strengthen the small but steadily growing lynx population in Thuringia and thus make an important contribution to the conservation of this fascinating wild animal species in Germany.

Ionel comes from Romania, where the project partners ACDB and Romsilva managed to catch him in a box trap in the Suceava region near the Carpathian village of Brosteni. The lynx was examined by a vet on site and then transferred to a quarantine enclosure. Ionel arrived in the Thuringian Forest on 3 April and entered the release enclosure there. Here he had time to acclimatise to his new surroundings. Ionel is a young, healthy male – about 3 to 4 years old and weighing around 24 kilograms.

Welcome to the Thuringian Forest, Ionel!