The Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) is a solitary, nocturnal hunter. Its signature traits include tufted ears, a bobbed tail, and a thick winter coat. Adults are stocky and muscular, standing 50–75 cm tall at the shoulder and reaching up to 130 cm in length. Its round face is framed by whiskered "sideburns," giving it a regal, almost mythical look. The lynx prefers remote woodlands and avoids human contact whenever possible.
A Life in the Shadows
Lynxes hunt alone, usually at dusk. Their diet includes hares, roe deer, marmots, squirrels, birds—and even fish. But they never attack humans. In fact, they go out of their way to avoid us.
Life and Death in the Forest
Breeding season runs from February to April. After a two-month gestation, the female gives birth to one to four kittens. She raises them alone; the male plays no role in parenting.
The young start on milk, then graduate to hunting under their mother’s watchful eye. By ten months, they go solo—but the first year is brutal. Many don’t survive.
In the wild, a lynx may live up to 15 years.
Few Natural Enemies—but Many Dangers
At the top of the food chain, the lynx has little to fear. But adult lynxes can still fall to bears or wolves—often due to territorial clashes, not hunger. Young lynxes face more threats: golden eagles have been known to snatch them, and in Scandinavia, even wolverines may attack.
But the most dangerous predator, by far, is man.
Human Threats That Push the Lynx to the Brink
- Deforestation: Loss of cover and prey.
- Fragmented habitats: Roads and rails isolate populations.
- Inbreeding: Genetic weakness reduces survival.
- Poaching and poisoning: Still common in livestock regions.
- Human conflict: Blamed for livestock attacks; seen as hunting competition.
- Road fatalities: Major cause of death in many regions.
- Prey shortages and disease: Especially fatal for juveniles.
A Slow Return—But a Fragile One
By the 1970s, the lynx was virtually extinct in France. Thanks to reintroduction efforts, it now survives in the Vosges, Jura, and Alps. But numbers remain dangerously low—under 10,000 across all Europe.
The Iberian lynx once held the dubious title of the world’s rarest cat. Now, the Eurasian lynx faces its own cliff edge.
No Link in the Food Chain—Yet the Biggest Threat
Humans are not part of the lynx’s natural food web. And yet, we represent its gravest danger. Whether through habitat destruction, climate change, or ignorance, we’ve pushed this majestic animal to the edge of existence.
Its survival now depends not only on nature’s resilience—but on our will to protect it.
