DNA now confirmed

Lynx has killed a doe in Eibiswald

A lynx (symbolic image)

(Bild: Mathis Fotografie)

As early as the night of November 26, there was suspicion in Eibiswald that a lynx might have been behind the killing of a doe. Now a DNA sample has confirmed this - a "sensation" according to hunters and cause for celebration.

The Styrian hunting community speaks of a "sensational discovery" because the lynx is said to be a previously unknown animal. By analyzing the crack and droppings, the dead doe could be assigned to a lynx.

"The presence of a lynx increases biodiversity and enriches our native hunting grounds," writes the Styrian Hunters' Association. Due to the low population density and the high mortality rate of young animals, high growth rates are not to be expected.

Only a few wild lynx live in Styria
Five to seven animals are thought to live permanently in Styria. The lynx's prey in our region primarily includes roe deer, chamois, foxes and hare-like prey. "We see the natural return of the lynx as part of our ecosystem in a very positive light," says Landesjägermeister Franz Mayr-Melnhof-Saurau.

Wolf pack comes close to the border
In the course of the exchange with Slovenian experts, Styrian hunters also learned that a pack of five wolves had been spotted by wildlife camera just ten kilometers from the Styrian border.