First Hard Evidence of Lynx (Lynx Lynx L.) Presence in Bulgaria

ABSTRACT

The last officially registered lynx in Bulgaria was killed in 1941 and is considered extinct from the country. Since then there are only unofficial reports of local people throughout the whole country as none of them was officially confirmed. In the last 15 years more and more reports for seen or illegally killed lynx in Bulgaria are gathered from different sources. In May 2008 we initiated two projects to record animal presence and behaviour by 8 Moultrie camera traps. On 21^st of November 2008 in 6:38 and 6:39 am a camera trap placed for observation of a badger set registered two photos of adult male lynx. This evidence is equal to quality one level of data reliability, according to the common standards for the interpretation of the monitoring data on a Pan-Alpine level accepted by the Pan-Alpine Conservation Strategy for the Lynx. This is considered the first real proof of lynx presence in Bulgaria. Development of the lynx population through the last years is discussed below.

Keywords:

• camera trap
• lynx
• Osogovo mountain
• recovery