Poaching Threatens the Establishment of a Lynx Population, Highlighting the Need for a Centralized Judiciary Approach

Arlettaz, Raphaël; Chapron, Guillaume; Kéry, Marc; Klaus, Elisabeth; Mettaz, Stéphane; Roder, Stefanie; Vignali, Sergio; Zimmermann, Fridolin; Braunisch, Veronika

doi:10.3389/fcosc.2021.665000

Cited by 12 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Because the best lynx capture period corresponds to the mating season ( 23 ), the likelihood is high that a female would present a neck wound at capture, i.e., such females with a p24 band may either be uninfected (unspecific reaction) or in an early phase of FIV infection with no possibility to distinguish between the two. Last but not least, political pressure on wildlife managers resulting from long-lasting local conflicts with hunters ( 48 , 49 ) excluded the option of repatriating lynx with a p24 band to their original capture site and required a pragmatic solution, even if this was likely the safest procedure in term of disease risk.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Management of Suspected Cases of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx) During an International Translocation Program

et al. 2021

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The Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) population in Switzerland serves as a source for reintroductions in neighboring countries. In 2016–2017, three lynx from the same geographical area were found seropositive for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) in the framework of an international translocation program. This novel finding raised questions about the virus origin and pathogenicity to lynx, the emerging character of the infection, and the interpretation of serological results in other lynx caught for translocation. Archived serum samples from 84 lynx captured in 2001–2016 were retrospectively tested for FIV antibodies by Western blot. All archived samples were FIV-negative. The three seropositive lynx were monitored in quarantine enclosures prior to euthanasia and necropsy. They showed disease signs, pathological findings, and occurrence of co-infections reminding of those described in FIV-infected domestic cats. All attempts to isolate and characterize the virus failed but serological data and spatiotemporal proximity of the cases suggested emergence of a lentivirus with antigenic and pathogenic similarities to FIV in the Swiss lynx population. A decision scheme was developed to minimize potential health risks posed by FIV infection, both in the recipient and source lynx populations, considering conservation goals, animal welfare, and the limited action range resulting from local human conflicts. Development and implementation of a cautious decision scheme was particularly challenging because FIV pathogenic potential in lynx was unclear, negative FIV serological results obtained within the first weeks after infection are unpredictable, and neither euthanasia nor repatriation of multiple lynx was acceptable options. The proposed scheme distinguished between three scenarios: release at the capture site, translocation, or euthanasia. Until April 2021, none of the 40 lynx newly captured in Switzerland tested FIV-seropositive. Altogether, seropositivity to FIV was documented in none of 124 lynx tested at their first capture, but three of them seroconverted in 2016–2017. Diagnosis of FIV infection in the three seropositive lynx remains uncertain, but clinical observations and pathological findings confirmed that euthanasia was appropriate. Our experiences underline the necessity to include FIV in pathogen screenings of free-ranging European wild felids, the importance of lynx health monitoring, and the usefulness of health protocols in wildlife translocation.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Management of Suspected Cases of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx) During an International Translocation Program

et al. 2021

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“…Fostering connectivity for lynx in these regions, for example through the establishment of functional transboundary migration corridors or the creation of stepping‐stone populations through reintroductions could make them key building blocks in the creation of lynx metapopulations at the continental scale. Yet, despite the availability of suitable habitat, the success of recolonization through natural dispersal has been limited, highlighting the importance of considering other limiting factors for range expansions, such as barriers to dispersal, traffic mortality and poaching (Arlettaz et al., 2021; Heurich et al., 2018; Port et al., 2021). In addition, we caution that several factors might disqualify areas identified as environmentally suitable by our maps as good candidate sites for fostering lynx comebacks, such as potential overlap with recovery areas of the critically endangered sister species Iberian lynx ( Lynx pardinus ; Garrote et al., 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrating animal tracking datasets at a continental scale for mapping Eurasian lynx habitat

Oeser,

Heurich,

Kramer‐Schadt

et al. 2023

Diversity and Distributions

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AimThe increasing availability of animal tracking datasets collected across many sites provides new opportunities to move beyond local assessments to enable detailed and consistent habitat mapping at biogeographical scales. However, integrating wildlife datasets across large areas and study sites is challenging, as species' varying responses to different environmental contexts must be reconciled. Here, we compare approaches for large‐area habitat mapping and assess available habitat for a recolonizing large carnivore, the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx).LocationEurope.MethodsWe use a continental‐scale animal tracking database (450 individuals from 14 study sites) to systematically assess modelling approaches, comparing (1) global strategies that pool all data for training versus building local, site‐specific models and combining them, (2) different approaches for incorporating regional variation in habitat selection and (3) different modelling algorithms, testing nonlinear mixed effects models as well as machine‐learning algorithms.ResultsTesting models on training sites and simulating model transfers, global and local modelling strategies achieved overall similar predictive performance. Model performance was the highest using flexible machine‐learning algorithms and when incorporating variation in habitat selection as a function of environmental variation. Our best‐performing model used a weighted combination of local, site‐specific habitat models. Our habitat maps identified large areas of suitable, but currently unoccupied lynx habitat, with many of the most suitable unoccupied areas located in regions that could foster connectivity between currently isolated populations.Main ConclusionsWe demonstrate that global and local modelling strategies can achieve robust habitat models at the continental scale and that considering regional variation in habitat selection improves broad‐scale habitat mapping. More generally, we highlight the promise of large wildlife tracking databases for large‐area habitat mapping. Our maps provide the first high‐resolution, yet continental assessment of lynx habitat across Europe, providing a consistent basis for conservation planning for restoring the species within its former range.

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“…The Alpine and Jura areas could therefore support more individuals if density-dependent mechanisms occur. On the other hand, threats that we did not include in the simulations, such as low genetic diversity (concerning the Alpine population in particular; Stiftung KORA, 2021) or illegal killing (Arlettaz et al, 2021), may slow the predicted growth.…”

Section: The Well-established Alpine and Jura Populationsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Modelling Eurasian lynx populations in Western Europe: What prospects for the next 50 years?

Bauduin¹,

Germain²,

Zimmermann

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Persistence of viable populations may be uncertain for large carnivore species, especially for those established in human-dominated landscapes. Here, we studied the Eurasian lynx in Western Europe established in the Upper Rhine metapopulation (i.e., Jura, Vosges-Palatinian and Black Forest populations) and in the Alpine population. These populations are currently considered as endangered or critically endangered due to high anthropogenic mortality and isolation. We assessed lynx persistence over a 50-year time horizon by implementing a spatially-explicit individual-based model while accounting for road mortality and habitat selection. For the Alpine and Jura populations, forecasts showed a steady growth rapidly reaching a stabilization phase with high resident female occupancy, and a positive growth for the newly re-established Vosges-Palatinian population. Moreover, this population showed a difference in female occupancy between the northern part, where a recent reintroduction program was conducted in the Palatinate Forest, and the southern part. Only the group of individuals in the Black Forest had an irregular growth probably due to the small number of only male lynx at start of the simulation and poor connectivity to surrounding populations. Exchanges of individuals between populations were limited, and the Jura population played the role of a crossroad. Persistence of lynx in Western Europe seems likely on a large scale over the next 50 years. However, lynx persistence in the southern part of the Vosges-Palatinian population and in the Black Forest appears challenging without long-term conservation management.

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Poaching Threatens the Establishment of a Lynx Population, Highlighting the Need for a Centralized Judiciary Approach

Cited by 12 publications

References 22 publications

Management of Suspected Cases of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx) During an International Translocation Program

Management of Suspected Cases of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx) During an International Translocation Program

Integrating animal tracking datasets at a continental scale for mapping Eurasian lynx habitat

Modelling Eurasian lynx populations in Western Europe: What prospects for the next 50 years?

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