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CAMERA TRAP MONITORING

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 2023/2024 4.37 3.73-5.01
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
IIIa Western Central Switzerland 2023/2024 1.35 1.18-1.53
Vc Surselva 2020/2021 1.3 0.81-1.79
IIIc East Central Switzerland 2023/2024 1.16 0.75-1.57
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:

Sessions within the former reference area Central Jura:

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: 13.12.2023–11.02.2024

951 km², 74 locations with 148 camera traps.

The camera traps at the 74 locations operated during 4’315 of the potential 4’440 trap nights (97,2%). During the session, 93 events of 11 independent lynx at 74 sites were recorded. In addition, 3-4 juveniles of at least 2 litters were detected. The capture-recapture estimate of abundance (95% confidence interval) under model Mh was 11 (11 - 15) independent lynx, which corresponds to a density of 1.35 (1.18-1.53) independent lynx per 100 km² of suitable habitat.

Sessions:

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:

IIIc East central Switzerland

Most recent session: 16.02.2024–16.04.2024

1270 km², 85 locations with 170 camera traps.

The monitoring of the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) by means of camera traps in the reference area Eastern central Switzerland during winter 2023/24 was carried out during 60 nights, from 16.02.2024 to 16.04.2024. The camera traps at the 85 locations operated during 4’998 of the potential 5’100 trap nights (98%). During the session, 83 events of 9 independent lynx at 21 sites were recorded. In addition, 3 juveniles of 3 litters were detected. The capturerecapture estimate of abundance (95% confidence interval) under model Mh was 11 (10 – 19) independent lynx, which corresponds to a density of 1.16 (0.75 – 1.57) independent lynx per 100 km2 of suitable habitat.

Sessions:

Spatial distribution of the lynx photographed during the passage. blue: males; pink: females; black: sex unknown. ©KORASpatial distribution of the lynx photographed during the passage. blue: males; pink: females; black: sex unknown. ©KORA

Spatial distribution of the lynx photographed during the passage. blue: males; pink: females; black: sex unknown. ©KORA

IVa Simme-Saane

Most recent session: from 25.11.2023 to 24.01.2024 (DE, FR)

1,135 km², 79 locations with 158 camera traps.

The camera traps at the 79 locations operated during 4’648 of the potential 4’740 trap nights (98,1%). During the session, 342 events of 45 independent lynx at 70 sites were recorded. In addition, 10 juveniles of at least 9 litters were detected. The capture-recapture estimate of abundance (95% confidence interval) under model Mh was 47 (46 - 64) independent lynx, which corresponds to a density of 4.37 (3.73 – 5.01) independent lynx per 100 km² of suitable habitat. 

Sessions:

  • Winter 2007/2008: KORA Report Nr. 42 (DE, FR)
  • Winter 2009/2010: KORA Report Nr. 52 (DE, FR)
  • Winter 2011/2012: KORA Report Nr. 57 (DE, FR)
  • Winter 2013/2014: KORA Report Nr. 64 (DE, FR)
  • Winter 2015/2016: KORA Report Nr. 74 (DE, FR)
  • Winter 2017/2018: KORA ReportNr. 82 (DE, FR)
  • Winter 2020/2021: KORA Report Nr. 103 (DE, FR)
  • Winter 2023/2024: KORA Report Nr. 122 (DE. FR)

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:

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:

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.