FAQ

The lynx distribution in Switzerland stretches mostly over the Jura mountains and the Alps (with the exception of the southern Alpine valleys) and over north-eastern Switzerland. Current records can be found under Distribution and in the KORA Monitoring Center, respectively.

In Switzerland, a variety of factors led to the extinction of the large carnivores. Basically, the natural resources were heavily overused in the 19th century. The forest area decreased, and the wild ungulate populations were overhunted and also extirpated with the exception of relatively small, isolated chamois populations. Consequently, livestock depredation increased – even more so because livestock was driven into the remaining forests to browse – and the conflict between humans and large carnivores intensified. The combination of habitat loss, prey depletion and persecution (incl. federal bounties for the killing of large carnivores) led to the extinction of large carnivores in Switzerland at the turn of the 19th to the 20th century.

Evidently yes, as today’s population and the experiences from the last 50 years are showing. If the lynx finds enough prey and is not persecuted, it can live well in our cultural landscape. A study from 2001 estimated a potential population of ca. 300 lynx in the Swiss Alps. Additionally, some 70–80 individuals can occur in the Jura mountains. In the last decade, some individuals have begun to establish themselves on the Central Plateau, and there has even been some reproduction observed there.

The effects in ecosystems influenced by predators are highly complex. There are studies showing positive as well as negative effects. We distinguish between a direct (numerical) impact on the abundance and demography of the prey populations (roe deer and chamois) on the one hand, and an indirect impact (e.g. on the distribution of the prey in the landscape) on the other hand. An adult lynx requires approximately 55 roe deer or chamois per year, a female with cubs approximately 70 per year. The influence of the lynx on prey populations depends on both the lynx density, and the status of the prey populations. KORA has performed various studies on the diet of lynx in Switzerland (see Completed projects, or report 50 years of lynx in Switzerland). This data – in combination with cantonal data on hunting and natural mortalities – show the spectrum of the size of the impact. Generally, the impact is small to moderate. Under particular conditions (e.g. high lynx density with a simultaneously decreasing roe deer population as a consequence from hunting and harsh winters), the impact of the lynx can be high and, for example, surpass the impact of hunting. Such a situation was only found in Switzerland in the north-western Alps between 1997 and 2001, so far. KORA has also performed a specific study on the impact of the lynx on the chamois population in the Bernese Oberland and to compare it to the impact of hunting. On average, the impact of hunting was judged to be more significant than the impact of lynx. In addition to predation, there are “non-lethal effects”, i.e. an influence on the behaviour of the prey, e.g. their location and vigilance and consequently on their habitat use.

No, the lynx is not dangerous for humans. Since the reintroduction in the 1970s, there has been no noteworthy incident. Even lynx that are cornered do not attack humans. However, there are some known incidents of aggression towards dogs. In those cases they found themselves – probably mostly by chance – in the vicinity of females with cubs, particularly during the hunting season.