Newquay Zoo’s Lynx Kitten Joins Europe's Rewilding Revolution

A nine-month-old female lynx born at Newquay Zoo has become the UK’s first zoo-bred cat to be selected as a potential candidate for Europe's prestigious Linking Lynx rewilding programme, marking a significant milestone in international wildlife conservation efforts. 

The Carpathian lynx kitten, born on 29 May 2024, will begin her preparation journey for release into the wild in the coming weeks, pending successful completion of health checks and behavioural test. She is part of an ambitious project to strengthen wild populations across Europe's mountain ranges from the Carpathians to the Alps. 

The journey ahead is both ambitious and carefully planned. Within the next few weeks, if she passes all necessary examinations, she will be relocated to a specialised habituation facility in Germany, where she'll spend a few months in a semi-wild environment. This crucial transitional period will allow her to develop the skills necessary for survival in the wild, while still under expert observation - a process made possible when the European Endangered Species Programmes (EEP) linked John Meek at Newquay Zoo with the Linking Lynx project and its European conservation partners, including Zoo Karlsruhe in Germany. If she does well during this preparation period, she will be released into the wild. 

Dr Kathy Baker, Research Officer for Wild Planet Trust, commented:  

"This initiative not only demonstrates the vital role that forward thinking zoos can play in wildlife conservation, but also how important our visitors and local community are in supporting us. We are a charity, and every person who visits our zoos is directly contributing towards programmes like this that could help restore wildlife populations around the world. Our organisational mission is to help halt species decline, and this is fantastic example of the work we are doing to enable us to achieve this goal” 

The Linking Lynx project represents one of Europe's most ambitious carnivore conservation initiatives. Its goal is to establish a connected population of Carpathian lynx stretching from the species' stronghold in the Carpathian Mountains across to the Western Alps and Dinaric ranges. While the indigenous Carpathian lynx is currently listed as Least Concern, the reintroduced populations are classified as Endangered. Habitat fragmentation and human activity continue to threaten the species' long-term viability - challenges that can only be addressed through early implementation of coordinated international action. 

Dina Gebhardt, European Endangered Species Programmes (EEP_ Co-ordinator for Eurasian Lynxes, commented:  

"Now that the Carpathian lynx EEP is part of several in situ projects in Europe, the demand for offspring – especially females – has risen considerably. The goal is not only to keep the ex situ population genetically diverse and healthy, but also to provide individuals to introduce into the wild. For that, we need professional scientific led zoos that follow the Linking Lynx protocols conscientiously." 

The preparation process is delicate, requiring a careful balance of monitoring and distance to ensure the animals maintain their wild instincts. This level of sophisticated conservation work is only possible through the sharing of expertise across borders and institutions. 

For Newquay Zoo, which has bred several lynx cubs over the past decade, this collaboration between a small British zoo and a major European rewilding initiative is demonstrative of how local conservation centres can play a crucial role in international wildlife preservation efforts. 

John Meek, Curator of Plants and Animals at Newquay Zoo, commented: 

"She's shown remarkable development from day one. Her selection as a potential candidate for this programme validates our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of animal care and wildlife conservation. Every visitor who has supported our work has contributed to this moment." 

As spring approaches and the kitten's potential departure draws near, her keepers maintain a careful distance – a bittersweet but necessary preparation for her future life in the wild. In the coming months, supporters will be able to follow this remarkable kitten's journey as she prepares for her new life in the wild.  From the specialist training and testing she'll undergo at Newquay Zoo to her eventual transfer to Germany, and ultimately her preparation for life in the wilderness, this story represents a unique opportunity to witness conservation in action.  

Newquay Zoo will be sharing regular updates as this young lynx sets off on her extraordinary journey from Cornwall to Germany, offering an unprecedented glimpse into the complex and inspiring world of wildlife conservation.