In 2018, in the north of the orographic unit of the Veľká Fatra, we began to intensively monitor lynx crossings. After a year and a half of monitoring, we had already selected two locations where a transitional “trap” for lynx could be placed. The purpose of the planned capture was telemetric monitoring of individuals. In the end, the first location turned out to be less suitable, as wolves began to visit it more often and the lynx began to show itself only very sporadically at crossings. That is why we bet on the second trapping site. An exceptionally warm December 2019 was good for us. A few days (4 days) after unlocking the tread mechanism on December 8, 2019, a beautiful male lynx was captured, which was given the working name “FATRAN”. Later, however, it turned out that his “home range” was not the Veľká Fatra. Extremely warm weather without a significant amount of snow resulted in the initiation of the lynx rut already in December. This estimate was also confirmed by the increased activity of lynxes in other parts of the Veľká Fatra Mountains, but also in other mountains within the Slovak Republic, with the fact that in an incredible 12 days in December we managed to catch another 4 individuals!
The male lynx “Fatran” was caught in the early morning hours. He behaved surprisingly tame and did not tend to go against us in the trapping facility at all. The weight of this individual was 24 kg, we estimated the age at 4-5 years. This male lynx had a beautiful spot on a rusty background. After narcotization and taking biometric data, we quickly left the site, because of the peace of the lynx, which had already woken up from anesthesia. Narcotization was professionally provided by MVDr. Michal Belák from the National Zoo in Bojnice. According to the control on the camera traps, the lynx returned to the trapping facility that day, around 8:30 p.m. and stayed in the area for another two hours. Subsequently, it moved to the Ľubochnianská Valley, where it used the first weeks mainly quiet inaccessible places of protective forests. Later, we recorded a move to the Liptov side and the individual hunted in the vicinity of Liptovské Revúce and Liptovská Osada. After the New Year, we recorded a shift from the Veľká Fatra Mountains to the Low Tatras Mountains. Here “our” Fatran stayed permanently. According to the movement, we conclude that his home range was located in the Low Tatras and the move to the Veľká Fatra could only have been accidental, caused by an activity related to the rut. In the Low Tatras mountains, he mainly used the mountain zone above the upper forest line, or stayed at the upper forest line. From time to time, he also descended into the basins, sometimes in close proximity to human settlements. Since Fatran moved from the Veľká Fatra Mountains to the Low Tatras Mountains, colleagues from the NAPANT Administration took over the monitoring of this individual. The lynx sent coordinates at regular intervals, according to which it could be located. The telemetry collar worked properly “like clockwork” and we had location information on a daily basis. However, in August 2020, the signal stopped coming and the Fatrana telemeter collar was found while raking hay at one location. However, the last signal was not from this place. The collar was removed from the animal by human intervention. However, the cadaver was not found. In this case, a criminal complaint was filed against an unknown perpetrator and a total of three offenses were identified – (the crime of poaching, violation of species protection and damage to other people’s property) DNA samples were also taken for later investigation. Unfortunately, this time too, our fear that lynxes are illegally hunted on a large scale in the territory of the Slovak Republic has been confirmed. It is also the explanation why the population is still at such a low level. Partial information from other mountains in Slovakia clearly confirms that the monitored individuals simply disappear without a trace. We all probably know where… However, long-distance running will prove these connections.
Text: Ing. Juraj Žiak and Ing. Slavomír Finďo, CSc.
Photo: Ing. Juraj Žiak
