Eurasian lynx

The Eurasian lynx is a medium-sized wild cat naturally found across Eurasia. It belongs to the subfamily Felinae (or small cats) and the genus Lynx, composed of four extant species. The largest cat in Europe, it is among the species protected by the Berne Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats. Czech law recognizes the lynx as a critically endangered, protected species that must not be hunted. In many parts of its original habitat, the lynx was driven to extinction by deforestation, hunting, and prey depletion. Reintroduction attempts began in the 1970s in various places that have seen some degree of success – as is the case of Czechia, where several dozen individuals now live in the wild. They belong to the Carpathian population, considered a separate subspecies: Lynx lynx carpathicus. The greatest threat to the European lynx population is illegal hunting.

The European lynx is unmistakable for its long legs, short tail, tufts of hair on its ears, and long sideburns. The hindlegs are longer than the forelegs, giving the lynx its characteristic appearance. The paws are fairly large, reducing the pressure per area and thus acting as snowshoes. The colorization of the coat may vary, from grey to beige, russet, reddish or brown. Some individuals bear conspicuous black spots, while others are almost uniform with no spots at all. The underparts are much lighter than the flanks and back. The animal usually weighs around 20 kg, with some especially large specimens weighing more than 30 kg.