First Balkan lynx radio-tagged in Macedonia
In the evening of Sunday, 14 March 2010, the first Balkan lynx (Lynx
lynx martinoi) ever was captured in Mavrovo National Park, Macedonia. The
male, named “Marko”, was equipped with a GPS-collar and released subsequently
at place. “Marko” will provide important insights into the ecology of this
critically endangered lynx subspecies occuring in the border regions of
Macedonia and Albania. The first 10 days of following Marko’s movements (see
map) have already revealed that the new GPS-GSM technique works well for
observing these elusive animals in the rugged terrain of the Macedonian
mountains.
The project “Status, ecology and land tenure system of the critically endangered Balkan lynx Lynx lynx martinoi in Macedonia and Albania” is a partnership project between Swiss, Albanian and Macedonian institutions and supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation SNF together with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) under the programme SCOPES (Scientific co-operation between Eastern Europe and Switzerland). This 3 years project provides the scientific information needed for the Balkan Lynx Recovery Programme (www.catsg.org/balkanlynx).
Photo: Capture of “Marko”. Staff of the Macedonian
Ecological Society together with game wardens of the Mavrovo National Park,
Maceconia, take the required measurements of the male lynx.
© BLRP
