DISTRIBUTION
SWITZERLAND
The lynx in Switzerland is divided between two populations – Jura and Alps. The Jura population extends across the entire Jura Arc from Lake Geneva to Brugg AG. In the Alps, the lynx have so far spread mainly on the north side, where they are present from Lake Geneva to Lake Constance. However, central Switzerland west (Emmental and the area around the Napf) and the eastern central Switzerland (area between Lake Lucerne and Lake Walen) are not yet fully colonised. The occurrence in north-eastern Switzerland originated from translocations from the Jura and the Northwest Alps from 2001 onwards. Outside the northern side of the Alps, the species is mainly found on the right bank of the Rhône and in the Upper Valais, as well as in the Surselva. The remaining part of Graubünden, southern Valais and Ticino are currently being colonised by the lynx. There is increasing evidence of its presence on the Central Plateau, particularly in the area north of Lausanne. The lynx has been successfully reproducing there for over 10 years.
Lynx records are presented in the Monitorung Center.
Development of the distribution map
Switzerland was divided into smaller sections using a 5x5 km grid. If a lynx was detected within a grid cell during the biological year (01.05.–30.04), it was coloured in the highest SCALP category. However, the map does not show how many detections there were within a grid cell. There was at least one in each case.
There may be slight changes in the distribution of the grid cells from year to year. Gaps may arise not only due to the absence of lynx, but also because no evidence was provided within that cell in that biological year, even though a lynx was present. Such gaps may also indicate gaps in our monitoring network (no feedback, although there is evidence). To distinguish between permanently and sporadically occupied cells, several years must be taken into account.
We are now also showing reproduction. The dark circles in the grid cells each show where at least one young was detected. However, the total number of reproductions does not correspond to the number of circles. For example, a female with a young may have been detected in several grid cells, or several females may have reproduced in one grid cell if the grid cell extends over two neighbouring female territories.
Distribution area of the Eurasian lynx in Switzerland 2001 – 04/2023

Distribution area of the Eurasian lynx in Switzerland according to their SCALP category in the biological year 2022/2023

Distribution area of the Eurasian lynx in Switzerland according to their SCALP category in 2020

Distribution area of the Eurasian lynx in Switzerland according to their SCALP category in 2019

Distribution area of the Eurasian lynx in Switzerland according to their SCALP category in 2018

Distribution area of the Eurasian lynx in Switzerland according to their SCALP category in 2017

Distribution area of the Eurasian lynx in Switzerland according to their SCALP category in 2016

Distribution area of the Eurasian lynx in Switzerland according to their SCALP category in 2015

Distribution area of the Eurasian lynx in Switzerland according to their SCALP category in 2014

Distribution area of the Eurasian lynx in Switzerland according to their SCALP category in 2013

Distribution area of the Eurasian lynx in Switzerland according to their SCALP category in 2012

Distribution area of the Eurasian lynx in Switzerland according to their SCALP category in 2011

Distribution area of the Eurasian lynx in Switzerland according to their SCALP category in 2010

Distribution area of the Eurasian lynx in Switzerland according to their SCALP category in 2009

Distribution area of the Eurasian lynx in Switzerland according to their SCALP category in 2008

Distribution area of the Eurasian lynx in Switzerland according to their SCALP category in 2007

Distribution area of the Eurasian lynx in Switzerland according to their SCALP category in 2006

Distribution area of the Eurasian lynx in Switzerland according to their SCALP category in 2005

Distribution area of the Eurasian lynx in Switzerland according to their SCALP category in 2004

Distribution area of the Eurasian lynx in Switzerland according to their SCALP category in 2003

Distribution area of the Eurasian lynx in Switzerland according to their SCALP category in 2002

Distribution area of the Eurasian lynx in Switzerland according to their SCALP category in 2001
ALPS AND NEIGHBOURING POPULATIONS
Originally, the expert group SCALP was founded to assess the lynx over the entire Alps. Lately, the focus was enlarged to neighbouring populations: the Upper Rhine meta-population (Jura, Vosges, Palatinian forest, black forest and bordering areas), and the Dinarics. SCALP publisheds a monitoring report reguraly.

Lynx distribution in Central Europe (2021/2022) based on a 10×10 km grid (Red = SCALP category 1, “hard facts”; pink = SCALP category 2, confirmed reports; grey = SCALP category 3, non-verifiable reports. Signs of reproduction: yellow, grid cell with images of a juvenile lynx or a dead juvenile lynx; light green = grid cells where large and small lynx tracks were found together; dark green = grid cells with sightings of females with juveniles).
© SCALP
EUROPE
Monitoring and management are traditionally organised by the individual countries. However, all viable lynx populations expand over international boundaries. The network Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe, an IUCN/SSC specialist group, periodically collects the most recent data on the status, management and distribution of the carnivores in Europe.
Recent survey:
Earlier surveys:
- Status, management and distribution of large carnivores – bear, lynx, wolf & wolverine – in Europe. Part I (2013)
- Status, management and distribution of large carnivores – bear, lynx, wolf & wolverine – in Europe. Part II (2013)
- Guidelines for Population Level Management Plans for Large Carnivores (2008)
- KORA-Bericht 19 “Status and conservation of the Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx) in Europe in 2001”
- Action Plan for the Conservation of the Eurasian Lynx in Europe (2000)

© LCIE
Distribution of the Eurasian lynx in Europe (archive)

Distribution of the Eurasian lynx in Europe based on a 10×10 km grid and data from 2012–2016. Dark green = permanent presence (presence confirmed in at least 3 of the 5 years, or reproduction confirmed within the last 3 years), light green = sporadic presence (presence confirmed in less than 3 of the 5 years), blue = possible presence (weak evidence, possibly only rare vagrants). No data was available from country areas coloured white.
© LCIE
GLOBAL
Outside of Europe, the lynx distribution ranges to the Pacific, and from the Himalayas to the northern timberline. The lynx is a forest dweller (IUCN Red List). Only in Central Asia on the western edge of the Gobi desert and the Himalayas does it occur outside the zone of dense forests.
TAXONOMY
The Lynx genus includes four species, two in North America (Bobcat L. rufus in the U.S. and Mexico, Canada lynx L. canadensis in Canada and Alaska) and two in Eurasia (Eurasian lynx L. lynx and Iberian lynx L. pardinus in Spain). Lynx are generally typical hunters of mid-sized mammals (hares). Since the last ice age, the Eurasian lynx has however become a specialist hunter of small even-toed ungulates and is now about twice as heavy (17–26 kg) as its closest relative, the Canada lynx (10–15 kg).
Many subspecies of the Eurasian lynx are described. As of the current state of research, six subspecies of the lynx are proposed:
- Northern lynx L. l. lynx in Scandinavia, Finland, Baltic States, Belarus, European part of Russia east to the Yenissei river,
- Carpathian lynx L. l. carpathicus in East and Central Europe, as well as in the reintroduced populations in Western Europe,
- Balkan lynx L. l. balcanicus in the Balkans,
- Caucasus lynx L. l. dinniki in the Caucasus, Asia Minor, Iran and Iraq,
- Turkestan lynx L. l. isabellinus in Central Asia including the Himalayas and Tibet, and
- Siberian lynx L. l. wrangeli in Russia east of the Yenissei River to China.