ACTA BIOLOGICA SLOVENICA
LJUBLJANA 2012 Vol. 55, Št. 1: 43-44
ЛВ
Signs of lynx presence in Liechtenstein: 2005-2009
Znaki prisotnosti risa v Lihtenštajnu: 2005-2009
Holger Frick
National Office of Forests, Nature and Land Manangement, Dr. Grass-Strasse 12, FL-9490 Vaduz,
Liechtenstein correspondence: holger.frick@awnl.llv.li
Abstract: Signs of lynx presence were recorded three times between 2005 and 2009. Keywords: Lynx lynx, Alps, Liechtenstein, monitoring, distribution Izvleček: Znaki prisotnosti risa so bili zaznani trikrat med leti 2005 in 2009. Ključne besede: Lynx lynx, Alpe, Liechtenstein, monitoring, razširjenost
The lynx (Lynx lynx) disappeared in Liechtenstein over 100 years ago. The main causes were hunting, trapping and the overexploitation of forests and game by men. The first indicators for the presence of lynx in Liechtenstein were documented in January 2004 and January 2005 (Fasel 2006). Three more records occurred since. They can be classified as C2 and C3, respectively using SCALP categories. Tracks of lynx were found in December 2007 and November 2009 in Gafadura and Alpila, respectively (Fig. 1). Another documented record is a sighting by a private person on Guschgfiel in June 2008. The area of these records concurs with signs of presence mentioned in 2006 in Liechtenstein (Fasel 2006) and Vorarlberg, Austria (Laass et al. 2006). These findings indicate a single individual that most probably dispersed from the Eastern Swiss Alps occurrence (Zimmermann et al. 2012), crossed the river Rhine and found suitable hunting grounds in the border area between Liechtenstein and Austria. Additional regular sightings and prey carcasses were recorded from the same area but could not be associated with lynx unambiguously. A camera trap was therefore set and game wardens, foresters and hunters are urged to report any signs of lynx to the local authorities for validation.
References
Fasel, M., 2006. The lynx in Liechtenstein. Acta Biologica Slovenica, 46 (1), 53-54.
Laass, J., Fuxjäger, C., Huber, T., Gerstl, N., 2006. Lynx in the Austrian Alps 2000 to 2004. Acta
Biologica Slovenica, 46 (1), 43-49. Zimmermann, F. 2012. Status and distribution of the lynx (Lynx lynx) in the Swiss Alps 2005-2009 Status in razširjenost risa (Lynx lynx) v Švicarskih Alpah 2005-2009, Acta Biologica Slovenica, 54 (2), 73-81.
Figure 1: The three records of lynx between 2005 and 2009 are indicated as black dots (C2, tracks from 2007 and 2009) and a grey square (C3, sighting in 2008).
Slika 1: Tri lokacije kjer so bili zaznani znaki prisotnosti risa med 2005 in 2009 (črne točke = C2, sledi leta 2007 in 2009; sivi kvadrat = C3, opažen ris 2008).