Wild Eurasian lynx spotted in SW China

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A wild lynx was spotted wandering the grasslands of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in southwest China's Sichuan Province last Wednesday. It is the first time that a lynx has been captured on camera in Sertar County.

A European lynx walking in the snow. /VCG Photo

The lynx, with signature tufts of black hair on the ends of its ears, looks like a cat but in a larger size. This distinctive hair helps it detect the direction of sounds made by the prey from the wind, which makes it a quick-eared predator.

Portrait of a European lynx standing in the snow. /VCG Photo

Known as a vigorous climber and swimmer in the high altitude forests, lynxes are well accommodated to the cold weather there. The dense shrubs and rugged landscape provide natural hideouts for them to hunt their prey.

Lynx usually feed on a wide range of animals, from roe deer, reindeer, and chamois to smaller ones, like snowshoe hares, foxes, fish and goats. Its main hunting method is stalking, sneaking and making a deadly leap at its prey.

Two lynxes resting on wood in the forest. /VCG Photo

Of the four species within the Lynx genus, namely, the Canada lynx, Iberian lynx, Eurasian lynx and Bobcat, the Eurasian lynx is the one type that resides in many regions of northern and central China. It has been classified as a Class II protected species in China since 1980.

Two lynx kittens playing. /VCG Photo

According to the State Forestry Administration, it is estimated that about 27,000 lynxes live in China in 2009. Primarily threatened by illegal hunting for fur, the Eurasian lynx in China is also suffering from habitat loss and fragmentation.

Two lynxes showing love. /VCG Photo

To protect lynx in China, the national Law of Wildlife Protection was enacted in 1988 and multiple nature reserves were established to provide a better ecological environment for them. Earlier this September, a wild lynx was also found searching for prey in Taining Yuke Nature Reserve in Sichuan Province.