The support of local people plays a key role in the introduction of lynx. In the framework of the Local Consultative Groups, we organized a yearly gathering of the group members as a thank you for their cooperation. This time the event took place on Vodiška Mountain in Gorenjska, where one of the seven new LIFE Lynx information boards about the lynx are already in place.
Notice board on Vodiška Mountain was set by Heidi Kardoš, manager of the cottage on Vodiška planina and members of Kropa Hunting Club; Vojko Varl, Rok Pogačnik and Matjaž Kavar. Thank you for your cooperation!
Firstly, the project coordinator, Rok Černe presented the plans for lynx introductions that are still to come until the end of the project. Later on Urša Fležar from Biotechnical faculty, University of Ljubljana, presented latest results of lynx population monitoring in Slovenia with a focus on lynx in Gorenjska. Tilen Hvala closed the presentation part of the event with the efforts of the Hunting Association of Slovenia to prevent illegal hunting of lynx and other large carnivores. Mr.Jože Sodja, the Mayor of Bohinj, and Peter Benedik, Preseident of the Nomenj-Gorjuše hunting family, who received a Special Achievement Award from the Municipality of Bohinj for their contribution to the introduction of lynx into the Gorenjska region, also addressed the participants.
The lectures were followed by dinner and a social gathering as a thank you for accompanying and participating in the project.
Rok Černe presented the ongoing activities of the LIFE Lynx project. Photo: Maruša Prostor, LIFE Lynx
Tilen Hvala presented the training of the Police Investigation Team dealing with illegal hunting. Photo: Maruša Prostor, LIFE Lynx
Participants at the gathering. Photo: Maruša Prostor, LIFE Lynx