Europe's most threatened autochthonous (i.e. indigenous, not introduced) lynx population lives in the south-western Balkan Mountains. The Balkan lynx population, estimated at about 100 individuals, lives in Albania, Macedonia and parts of Serbia-Montenegro in isolation from the lynx populations of Bulgaria, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia. While the latter are derived from reintroduced specimen from the Carpathian Mountains, the Balkan lynx is represents the original subspecies of lynx indigenous to the Balkan Mountains. Protecting the remaining habitats of the Balkan lynx is important to ensure its survival. For this reason, EuroNatur supports Albanian and Macedonian conservationists in designating cross-border protected areas in the lynx's area of distribution.

Balkan Lynx Recovery Programme 2006-2009

The Balkan Lynx – a separate subspecies?

The Balkan lynx was described as a separate subspecies as early as the 1940s. More detailed research by the IUCN Cat Spezialist Group and the University of Bern appears to indicate that the lynx in the southern Balkan Mountains is indeed a subspecies of the Eurasian lynx. If the lynx experts can verify this hypothesis through genetic analyses the population would need to be considered as being under immediate threat. This is yet another reason for moving ahead with the protection of the Balkan lynx and its habitats. EuroNatur and its project partners have decided not to wait for final confirmation but to take initiative now and implement projects in Albania and Macedonia.

more information on the Balkan Green Belt Project