Elka, a Eurasian lynx from the Jahlava Zoo in the Czech Republic, has recently arrived at the Parco Natura Viva in Bussolengo. The lynx has already settled into her new habitat, where she lives alongside Vilcan, the male with whom she forms a pair. The area dedicated to these felines has been expanded to 800 square meters, providing an environment rich in oak trees, rocks, and underbrush, ideal for the potential arrival of offspring. This project is part of a broader initiative to reintroduce the Eurasian lynx into the wild, supported by European zoos.
The zoological director of Parco Natura Viva, Camillo Sandri, emphasized the importance of increasing space to facilitate the animals’ adaptation to their natural environment. The Eurasian lynx is the third largest predator in Europe and plays a crucial ecological role in controlling populations of ungulates such as roe deer and deer. Despite its rarity in Italy and a history of persecution that led to its disappearance until the mid-20th century, initiatives like that of Parco Natura Viva are essential to ensure the survival and growth of the small remaining populations.
