On March 20, LIFE Lynx project researchers fitted with a telemetry collar another resident female lynx from Slovenia. The lynx looked healthy, but after sedation, the veterinarian noticed she has serious heart problems (heart murmur). After the lynx was fitted with a collar, she woke up from the anesthesia, but unfortunately died two days after. The body of the lynx was taken to the Veterinary authorities for an autopsy.
Research from Central Europe has recognized cardiac health problems as a risk factor for lynx populations with low genetic diversity. Most times, this is a consequence of inbreeding, which is the biggest threat to Dinaric-SE Alpine lynx population, since the population origins from only six lynx. The main goal of our project is to increase genetic diversity and to help this population from another extinction, by bringing new lynx from healthy populations in the Carpathian Mountains.
More about the research on heart diseases in the lynx population with low genetic diversity.