CAMERA TRAP MONITORING
The results of the newest camera trap sessions are available below by clicking on the reference areas in the list. Reports of previous sessions can be downloaded as PDF (available in German and/or French). Lynx images of more recent camera trap session are presented in the KORA Monitoring Center.
Comparison of lynx densities in the different reference areas
Estimated lynx densities – independent lynx per 100 km² suitable habitat with 95% confidence interval – of the newest sessions in the reference areas in the compartments. The densities are sorted in descending order.
| Comp. | Reference area | Winter | Density | 95% CI |
| IVc | North of the Rhone | 2021/2022 | 5.12 | 4.04-6.19 |
| IVb | Eastern Bernese Oberland | 2022/2023 | 4.87 | 3.81-5.93 |
| IVa | Simme-Saane | 2020/2021 | 4.84 | 4.05-5.62 |
| Ia | Southern Jura | 2022/2023 | 3.61 | 2.8-4.42 |
| Ib | Northern Jura | 2021/2022 | 2.87 | 2.19-3.55 |
| II | North-eastern Switzerland | 2017/2018 | 2.79 | 2.06-3.52 |
| IIIb | Mid-Central Switzerland | 2022/2023 | 2.19 | 1.95-2.74 |
| Vc | Surselva | 2020/2021 | 1.3 | 0.81-1.79 |
| IIIa | Western Central Switzerland | 2020/2021 | 0.86 | 0.82-0.9 |
| IVe | Upper Valais | 2019/2020 | 0.27 | – |
| IVd | Southern Lower Valais | 2018/2019 | 0 | – |
Reference areas for the lynx camera trapping.
© KORA
REFERENCE AREAS
Ia Southern Jura
Most recent session: 03.12.2022–01.02.2023
949 km², 76 locations with 152 camera traps.
The camera traps at the 76 locations in the study area operated during 4502 of the potential 4560 trap nights (98.7%). During the session, 119 events of 25 independent lynx at 45 sites were recorded. In addition, 4 juveniles of at least 3 litters were detected. The capture-recapture estimate of abundance (95% confidence interval) under model Mh was 28 (27 – 45) independent lynx, which corresponds to a density of 3,61 (2,8 – 4,42) independent lynx per 100 km2 of suitable habitat. The estimated density has not changed significantly compared with the value estimated during the last session (winter 2020/21). The estimated density per 100 km2 of suitable habitat is within the higher half of the most recently estimated densities in all other sampled reference areas in Switzerland.
Sessions:
- Winter 2008/2009: KORA Bericht Nr. 47
- Winter 2011/2012: KORA Bericht Nr. 58
- Winter 2014/2015: KORA Bericht Nr. 69
- Winter 2017/2018: KORA Bericht Nr. 80
- Winter 2020/2021: KORA Bericht Nr. 101
- Winter 2022/2023: KORA Bericht Nr. 118
Sessions within the former reference area Central Jura:
- Winter 2007/2008: KORA Bericht Nr. 43 (DE, FR)
- Winter 2010/2012: KORA Bericht Nr. 55
- Winter 2013/2014: KORA Bericht Nr. 62
Reference area Southern Jura (blue polygon) with the spatial distribution of lynxes (Minimum Convex Polygon + buffer zone) photographed during the whole deterministic session 2022/2023. Blue: male (1.4 km buffer zone), pink: female (1.2 km), black: unknown sex (1 km). White circles with a black dot: sites where at least one independent lynx photo was taken; white circles with a red dot: sites where at least one lynx photo was taken, but the individual could not be identified with certainty; white circles: no lynx photo.
Development of the lynx density per 100 km² suitable habitat (column with 95% confidence interval) in the reference area Southern Jura. © KORA
© KORA
Ib Northern Jura
Most recent session: 23.11.2021–22.01.2022 (DE, FR)
882 km², 60 locations with 120 camera traps.
The camera traps at the 60 locations operated during 3,580 of the potentially possible 3,600 capture nights (99.4%). With 83 events at 39 locations, 16 independent lynx and 4 juveniles from at least 3 litters were pictured. The capture-recapture estimate of abundance (95% confidence interval) under model Mh was 18 (17–27) independent lynx, which corresponds to a density of 2.87 (2.19–3.55) per 100 km² suitable habitat. The estimated density did not change significantly in comparison to the value estimated in 2018/19.
Sessions:
Reference area Northern Jura (blue polygon) with the spatial distribution of lynxes (Minimum Convex Polygon + buffer zone) photographed during the whole deterministic session 2021/2022. Blue: male (1.4 km buffer zone), pink: female (1.2 km), black: unknown sex (1 km). White circles with a black dot: sites where at least one independent lynx photo was taken; white circles: no lynx photo.
Development of the lynx density per 100 km² suitable habitat (column with 95% confidence interval) in the reference area Northern Jura.
© KORA
II North-eastern Switzerland
Most recent session: 15.02.2022–16.04.2022
932 km², 70 locations with 140 camera traps.
The camera traps at the 70 locations operated during 3,675 of the potentially possible 4,200 capture nights (87.5%). With 151 events at 43 locations, 20 independent lynx and 2 juveniles from 2 litters were pictured. The capture-recapture estimate of abundance (95% confidence interval) under Modelbh was 22 (21–37) independent lynx, which corresponds to a density of 2.79 (2.06 -3.52) independent lynx per 100 km² of suitable habitat. The estimated density did not change significantly in comparison to the value estimated in 2017/18.
Sessions:
Reference area North-eastern Switzerland (blue polygon) with the spatial distribution of lynxes (Minimum Convex Polygon + buffer zone) photographed during the whole deterministic session 2021/2022. Blue: male (1.4 km buffer zone), pink: female (1.2 km), black: unknown sex (1 km). White circles with a black dot: sites where at least one independent lynx photo was taken; white circles with a red dot: sites where at least one lynx photo was taken, but the individual could not be identified with certainty; white circles: no lynx photo.
Development of the lynx density per 100 km² suitable habitat (column with 95% confidence interval) in the reference area north-eastern Switzerland.
© KORA
IIIa Western Central Switzerland
Most recent session: 05.02.2021-06.04.2021
951 km², 76 locations with 152 camera traps.
The camera traps at the 76 locations operated during 4,242 of the 4,440 potentially possible capture nights (95.5%). With 57 events at 19 locations, 7 independent lynx and 2 juveniles from at least 2 litters were pictured. The capture-recapture estimate of abundance (95% confidence interval) under Model Mh was 7(7 -7) independent lynx, which corresponds to a density of 0.86(0.82 -0.9) independent lynx per 100 km² of suitable habitat. The estimated density is significantly lower than the value estimated in the last session (2018/2019).
Sessions:
Reference area Western central Switzerland (blue polygon) with the spatial distribution of lynxes (Minimum Convex Polygon + buffer zone) photographed during the whole deterministic session 2020/2021. Blue: male (1.4 km buffer zone), pink: female (1.2 km), black: unknown sex (1 km). White circles with a black dot: sites where at least one independent lynx photo was taken; white circles: no lynx photo.
Development of the lynx density per 100 km² suitable habitat (column with 95% confidence interval) in the reference area western Central Switerzland.
© KORA
IIIb Mid-Central Switzerland
Most recent session: 16.02.2023–17.04.2023
1’051 km², 59 locations with 118 camera traps.
The camera traps at the 59 locations operated during 3,519 of the potentially possible 3,540 capture nights (99.4%). With 112 events at 42 locations, 16 independent lynx and 7–9 juveniles from at least 2 litters were pictured. The capture-recapture estimate of abundance (95% confidence interval) under model Mh was 16 (16–16) independent lynx, which corresponds to a density of 2.19 (1.81–2.58) independent lynx per 100 km² of suitable habitat. The estimated density did not change significantly in comparison to the value estimated in 2016/17.
Sessions:
Camera trap monitoring in the reference area mid-Central Switzerland IIIb in Winter 2019/20. Reference area = blue line. The circles with a point are camera trap locations where lynx were pictured, empty circles are locations without lynx pictures. The yellow circles show camera trap sites of the bordering reference area, eastern Bernese Oberland. The coloured polygons summarise locations with pictures of the same lynx. Juvenile lynx are only indicated if they could not be assigned to a mother (juvB779, juvL327, juvR322). Black lines delineate sub-compartment boundaries. Grey lines illustrate the canton boundaries. Settlement Areas are shown in orange.
Development of the lynx density per 100 km² suitable habitat (column with 95% confidence interval) in the reference area mid-Central Switerzland.
© KORA
IVa Simme-Saane
Most recent session: 01.12.2020-30.01.2021 (DE, FR)
1,135 km², 79 locations with 158 camera traps.
The camera traps at the 79 locations operated during 4,690 of the potentially possible 4,740 capture The camera traps at the 79 locations operated during 4,733 of the 4,740 potentially possible capture nights (99.9%). With 332 events at 66 locations, 46 independent lynx and 10-12 juveniles from at least 8 litters were pictured. The capture-recapture estimate of abundance (95% confidence interval) under Model Mh was 52 (48-67) independent lynx, which corresponds to a density of 4.84 (4.05 -5.62) independent lynx per 100 km² of suitable habitat. The estimated density is significantly higher than the value estimated in the last session (2017/2018).
Sessions:
- Winter 2007/2008: KORA Bericht Nr. 42 (DE, FR)
- Winter 2009/2010: KORA Bericht Nr. 52 (DE, FR)
- Winter 2011/2012: KORA Bericht Nr. 57 (DE, FR)
- Winter 2013/2014: KORA Bericht Nr. 64 (DE, FR)
- Winter 2015/2016: KORA Bericht Nr. 74 (DE, FR)
- Winter 2017/2018: KORA Bericht Nr. 82 (DE, FR)
- Winter 2020/2021: KORA Bericht Nr. 103 (DE, FR)
Reference area Simme-Saane (blue polygon) with the spatial distribution of lynxes (Minimum Convex Polygon + buffer zone) photographed during the whole deterministic session 2020/2021. Blue: male (1.4 km buffer zone), pink: female (1.2 km), black: unknown sex (1 km). White circles with a black dot: sites where at least one independent lynx photo was taken; white circles with a red dot: sites where at least one lynx photo was taken, but the individual could not be identified with certainty; white circles: no lynx photo.
Development of the lynx density per 100 km² suitable habitat (column with 95% confidence interval) in the reference area Simme-Saane.
© KORA
IVb Eastern Bernese Oberland
Most recent session: 23.02.2023–24.04.2023
689 km², 47 locations with 94 camera traps.
The camera traps at the 47 locations operated during 2’796 of the potential 2’820 trap nights (99.1%). During the session, 203 events of 26 independent lynx at 37 sites were recorded. In addition, 4 juveniles of at least 3 litters were detected. The capture-recapture estimate of abundance (95% confidence interval) under model Mh was 28 (27 - 44) independent lynx, which corresponds to a density of 4.87 (3.81-5.93) independent lynx per 100 km2 of suitable habitat. The estimated density has increased significantly from the value estimated in the last session.
Sessions:
Camera trap monitoring in the K-IVb eastern Bernese Oberland 2019/20. Reference area = blue line. The circles with a point are camera trap locations where lynx were pictured, empty circles are locations without lynx pictures. The yellow circles show camera trap sites of the bordering reference area Mid-Central Switzerland. The coloured polygons summarise locations with pictures of the same lynx. The observations of lynx B753 without a determined territory are connected with a dashed line. Black lines delineate sub-compartment boundaries. Grey lines illustrate the canton boundaries. Settlement Areas are shown in orange.
Development of the lynx density per 100 km² suitable habitat (column with 95% confidence interval) in the reference area eastern Bernese Oberland.
© KORA
IVc North of the Rhone
Most recent session: 04.02.2022–05.04.2022 (DE, FR)
1,150 km², 64 locations with 128 Camera traps.
The camera traps at the 64 locations operated during 3,763 of the potentially possible 3,840 capture nights (98.0%). With 191 events at 47 locations, 37 independent lynx and 7 juveniles from at least 5 litters were pictured. The capture-recapture estimate of abundance (95% confidence interval) under model Mbh was 42 (38–59) independent lynx, which corresponds to a density of 5.12 (4.04–6.19) independent lynx per 100 km² of suitable habitat. The estimated density did change significantly in comparison to the value estimated in 2018/19.
Sessions:
- Winter 2017/2018 (Kt. BE, FR, VD): KORA Bericht Nr. 82 (DE, FR)
- Winter 2018/2019: KORA Bericht Nr. 88
- Winter 2021/2022: KORA Bericht Nr. 112 (DE, FR)
Reference area North of the Rhone (blue polygon) with the spatial distribution of lynxes (Minimum Convex Polygon + buffer zone) photographed during the whole deterministic session 2021/2022. Blue: male (1.4 km buffer zone), pink: female (1.2 km), black: unknown sex (1 km). White circles with a black dot: sites where at least one independent lynx photo was taken; white circles with a red dot: sites where at least one lynx photo was taken, but the individual could not be identified with certainty; white circles: no lynx photo.
Development of the lynx density per 100 km² suitable habitat (column with 95% confidence interval) in the reference area North of the Rhone.
© KORA
IVd Southern Lower Valais
Most recent session: 27.02.2019–28.04.2019
1,764 km², 66 locations with 132 camera traps.
The camera traps at the 66 locations operated during 3,876 of the potentially possible 3,960 capture nights (97.9%). No lynx were detected during this session. The abundance was zero independent lynx, which corresponds to a density of zero independent lynx per 100 km² of suitable habitat. This is the lowest recorded lynx density in Switzerland and is significantly lower than the estimates in the other reference areas. It should be noted however, that some chance lynx observations were recorded in the reference area southern Lower Valais during the first half of 2019, although none of them was a “hard fact” (C1). Hence, we cannot rule out that one lynx, especially a dispersing individual, was present in the reference area during the survey. We can, however, certainly conclude that the lynx density in the reference area southern Lower Valais is extremely low.
Sessions:
Chance observations collected in the lower Valais during the period 01.01.2019–07.06.2019 classified according to the SCALP categories. Red = “hard facts” (C1), blue = observations confirmed by trained people (C2) and green = all observations which have not been confirmed and all observations which cannot be verified (C3) such as direct observations, scats or calls. Reference area = blue line. Black lines delineate sub-compartment boundaries. Grey lines illustrate the canton boundaries. Settlement areas are shown in orange.
© KORA/GIS
IVe Upper Valais
Most recent session: 19.02.2020–19.04.2020
1,975 km², 73 locations with 146 camera traps.
The camera traps at the 73 locations operated during 4,250 of the potentially possible 4,380 capture nights (97%). With 6 events at 4 locations, 2 independent lynx were recorded. This sample is too small to estimate the number of lynx by means of capture-recapture models. In addition to the sites equipped with camera-traps as part of the deterministic lynx monitoring, the Hunting, Fishing and Wildlife Service of the canton of Valais (DJFW) has installed several infrared flash camera-traps in the frame of the wolf monitoring. The lynx B785 was photographed on one of the sites three times. Thus, at least three different independent lynx were present in the reference area during the entire session, which corresponds to a minimum density of 0.27 independent lynx per 100 km² of suitable habitat.
Sessions:
Camera trap monitoring in the K-IVe Upper Valais 2019/20. Reference area = blue line. The circles with a point are camera trap locations where lynx were pictured, empty circles are locations without lynx pictures. The coloured polygons summarise sites with pictures of the same lynx. Black lines delineate sub-compartment boundaries.
© KORA/GIS
Dispersion of B785 from the Gruyère region to the Upper Valais (25.02.2018-20.04.2020) The dotted pink lines connect the photographic records of B785 in chronological order. They do not correspond to the real dispersal route from B785 to the Valais. The green triangle indicates the location above Gampel, where B785 was captured three times by a DJFW camera trap during the 60 nights of this monitoring. Reference area = blue line. The circles represent the camera trap locations. Black lines mark the sub-compartment boundaries.
© KORA/GIS
Vc Surselva
Most recent session: 18.02.2021-19.04.2021
1,438 km², 76 locations with 152 camera traps
The camera traps at the 76 locations operated during 4,508 of the 4,620 potentially possible capture nights (97.6%). With 102 events at 34 locations, 14 independent lynx and 5-6 juveniles from at least 4 litters were pictured. The capture-recapture estimate of abundance (95% confidence interval) under Model Mh was 15 (15-33) independent lynx, which corresponds to a density of 1.3 (0.81-1.79) independent lynx per 100 km² of suitable habitat. This is the first density estimate for this reference area.
Sessions:
Reference area Surselva (blue polygon) with the spatial distribution of lynxes (Minimum Convex Polygon + buffer zone) photographed during the whole deterministic session 2020/2021. Blue: male (1.4 km buffer zone), pink: female (1.2 km), black: unknown sex (1 km). White circles with a black dot: sites where at least one independent lynx photo was taken; white circles with a red dot: sites where at least one lynx photo was taken, but the individual could not be identified with certainty; white circles: no lynx photo.