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B”er, M.; Reklewski, J.; Smielowski, J.; Tyrala, P.
Reintroduction of the European lynx _(Lynx lynx)_ to the Kampinoski National Park/Poland - field experiment with zooborn individuals Part III: Demographic development of the population from December 1993 until January 2000
2000  Der Zoologische Garten (70): 304-312

During a 7 year period 30 captive born lynxes were released after spending an average of 192 days in an situ adaptation enclosure. 13 individuals were found dead after a mean post release lifespan of 271.5 days due to traffic accidents, poaching or unknown disease. Impact of terrestrial traffic and potential danger from contagious viral diseases of domestic dogs and cats as well as poaching are presumed to be the main anthropogenic factors negatively influencing desired lynx population growth. There is a demand for future regarding canine and viral disease seroprevalence in domestic carnivores and lynxes in the Kampinoski National Park area. 5 lynxes repeatedly preyed on domestic lifestock and had to be recaptured. 4 lynxes released for a second time succeeded in hunting wild prey species. Damages on domestic lifestock could not simply be deduced to the use of captive born predators at all since predator opportunism by switching from hunting game to poultry can be observed in wildborn lynxes too. Even among siblings individual variances of adaptation to the wild environment were mainly a result of difference in inborn factors influencing learning of certain behavioural skills rather than being dependant on maintenance techniques at their birth enclosures or certain ways of pre-re-lease management. 6 adult females reared pups during one year or repeatedly. 12 distinct observations of independent juvenile individuals were reported from all parts of the park. 7 out of 8 recorded dislocations outside the National Park area over distances between 10-50km directed toward neighbouring nature reserves and were recorded during the past two years. Descending from these reintroduction activities a reliable minimum population of 19 lynxes of which 9 individuals represent the wildborn filial generation exists in central Poland at present. During the last 5 years of the project the National Park management improved lynx habitat by acquiring former farmland increasing total area of natural succession and renaturalization of drainage canals. Thus potential lynx pup rearing areas increase. Due to the numbers of sight reports of wildborn individuals in the National Park area and due to recent lynx dislocation in two neighbouring nature reserves the projects next phase favours ceasure of further releases and monitoring natural population development.

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