Lynx

Posted by carlyluvsunited on Sunday 8 March 2009

carpathian lynx

Romania's Big Wild Cat

The Lynx in Romania is the largest wild-cat of all the lynx types world-wide, in the species "Lynx lynx Eurasian Lynx", with short tails, and a tuft of hair on the tip of the ears.

There are about 2200 lynxes in the Carpathians, making them the largest continuous lynx population west of the Russian border.


Romania's large Lynx have large paws padded for walking on the deep winter snows in the Carpathians, and long whiskers on the face. The colour of the body varies from light brown to grey and is occasionally marked with dark brown spots, especially on the limbs. They range about 5 kg (11 pounds) (roughly the size of a large domestic cat) up to about 30 kg (66 pounds).

The Eurasian Lynx found throughout the mountains of Romania is significantly larger than the other species found in the U.S. and Canada.

Habitat

The lynx inhabits the high altitude forests with dense cover of shrubs, reeds and grass. Though the cat hunts only on the ground, it can climb trees and swim. The same Lynx as found in Romania, the Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx), was considered to be extinct in other parts of central Europe, but continued to thrive in the rich habitat of the Carpathian mountain system and across parts of the Transilvanian plateau.

Behaviour

The Lynx is usually solitary, although a group of cats can travel and hunt together. Mating takes place in the late winter just before the snow melts start in the lower ranges of the Romanian mountains. Its desired resting place is in crevices or under ledges, and it gives birth to 2 to 4 kittens at a time. It feeds on birds and mammals and often on sheep and goats. However, spotting a lynx is an event most seen by shepherds in the Carpathians, due to the rather shy and solitary nature of the animal.

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