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EURASIAN LYNX Lynx lynx
Identification The Eurasian Lynx has relatively long legs and large
paws. The coat colour is predominantly greyish with a tinting of
yellowish to bright red and profuse black spotting. The short tail
(about 18 cm) is black-tipped. Prominent tufts of longish hair hang
down from the cheeks. The ears are long and pointed with black tufts
(35 mm long) at the tips, and there is a white patch at the centre of
the back of each ear.
Size Shoulder height 60–75 cm.
Weight 12–22 kg.
Habitat and Behaviour In the region the Eurasian Lynx is restricted
to forested mountains and hill ranges in Iran and Turkey. Roe Deer
and Chamois are said to be its main prey, but it also takes young Red
Deer, Wild Sheep and Wild Goats, as well as hares and large rodents.
It is not unusual for a Eurasian Lynx to kill prey up to three times
its own weight. It is a solitary hunter that is active mostly in the
morning hours and evening. Over much of its range young are born in
May–June after an average 69-day gestation. Litter size is 1–4 kittens,
which are independent of the mother at about 10 months.
Distribution and Status The Eurasian Lynx is very rare in both Turkey
and Iran mainly because of habitat and prey destruction, but also
due to direct hunting by man. In Turkey it is mainly restricted to the
forested mountain areas. In Iran it is only known from the Alborz
range south of the Caspian, and it has recently been recorded in the
Zagros Mountains in the west.
Conservation Areas Munzur NP (Turkey); Dena PA, Kiamaki WR,
Arasbaran PA, Lisar PA, Kavir NP, Golestan NP (Iran).