The beginning of a new stage in the life of lynxes born in the Dzika Zagroda.
Two lynxes, born in our enclosures in 2025, left the Dzika Zagroda and joined the population of lynxes living in the wild in north-western Poland. The release took place in the Miastko Forest District, thanks to the cooperation of the West Pomeranian Nature Society with foresters.
Two females were released: Gertruda and Gryzelda. Both received telemetry collars, thanks to which we will be able to track their migrations, habitat selection and the process of becoming independent in nature. Each signal from the transmitter is valuable knowledge for the protection of the species.
However, this is only the beginning.
The next three lynxes are currently being prepared for release and if everything goes according to plan, they will follow in the footsteps of their predecessors at the beginning of next week. These three include a male less than a year old rescued in winter and undergoing intensive rehabilitation, and two young individuals born in the Dzika Zagroda.
For all of them, it is a moment of transition from the safe space of enclosures to independent living, their own territories, hunting and building a free population.
How does the preparation of lynxes for release look like?
Lynxes are separated from their mother, then their health is checked, they are weighed, their gender is confirmed, the chip is checked, and a telemetry collar is put on. Lynxes are also given medication to protect them for the first months of life in the wild. They are then placed in smaller pens, waiting to be transported to the place of release.
In the photos below you can see the moment of the release of the first two females – Gertrude and Gryzelda, which were taken and made available to us by Mr. Tadeusz Przybył.
The following photos illustrate the preparations for the release of three more lynxes.
Photos: Tadeusz Przybyl, Marta Jaka and Miłosz Kowalewski
__________________________
The activities are carried out by the West Pomeranian Nature Society as part of the Project LIFE22-NAT-PL-LIFE LYNX PL LT DE „Expanding the range of lynx populations in northern Poland”.
Funded by the EU. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author or authors only and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the European Union or the European Climate, Environment and Infrastructure Executive Agency (CINEA). Neither the European Union nor CINEA are responsible for them. Co-financed by the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management and the WWF Poland Foundation.
The project partners are: West Pomeranian Nature SocietyWWF Poland, Spychowo Forest District, State Forests
Ekosistemų apsaugos centras
Rewilding Oder Delta
#LIFEprogramme
#LIFEproject
#LIFEAmplifier
English 
Polish