LYNX (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: While Bengal tigers, Asiatic lions, and Indian leopards often steal the spotlight, the lesser-known lynx is another member of the Felidae family gaining attention among Indians.

Lynx

• About: These are medium-size, solitary wildcats that roam the forests of North America, Europe, and Asia.
• Habitat in India: The lynx is found in India, specifically in the frozen cold desert of Ladakh.
• Lynx in Europe: In Europe, the lynx is considered one of the three major predators along with the gray wolf and the brown bear.

oEurope is home to two of the world’s four types of lynx: the larger Eurasian lynx and the smaller Iberian lynx.

oThe Eurasian lynx, one of Europe's largest predators, has rebounded from near-extinction but remains critically endangered in certain areas like the Voges, Palatinian forest, Bohemian-Bavarian forest, and the Balkans.

• Conservation status: IUCN- Near Threatened
• Importance: Lynxes play a crucial role in their natural habitats, serving as apex predators that help maintain ecosystem balance.
• International Lynx Day: June 11th, celebrates and raises awareness about the conservation of lynxes worldwide.