Conservation of a new breeding population of Caucasian lynx (Lynx lynx dinniki) in eastern Turkey

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Volume

39

Publisher

TÜBİTAK

Publication Date

4-5-2015

First Page

541

Last Page

543

Abstract

Current data on the distribution and ecology of the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in Turkey are limited. Furthermore, lynx in the Caucasus region are likely to represent a subspecies of the Eurasian lynx, the Caucasian lynx (L. l. dinniki). Throughout its range, lynx increasingly face threats due to human activity, with habitat loss and prey depletion being of particular concern in eastern Turkey. As part of our camera trapping efforts to monitor large carnivores in the Sarıkamış-Allahuekber National Park and surrounding forests in Kars and Erzurum provinces, eastern Turkey, we have documented a breeding population of Caucasian lynx outside the species’ published range. In addition to the threats above, vehicle strikes, poaching, and guardian dogs also threaten this small population. There is an urgent need for ecological research, awareness raising, and community-based conservation efforts focused on large carnivores in the region.

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