Last week, a new scientific publication about lynx monitoring in Slovenia was published, highlighting the importance of involving hunters as citizen scientists in the process.
The paper represents the most detailed description of the lynx monitoring program in Slovenia, which was developed with the help of the LIFE Lynx project. Specifically, it explains how combining data from questionnaires, chance observations and systematic camera trapping can yield high quality data for lynx abundance and density estimation. After the reinforcement process (in the 2022-2023 survey season), the lynx population size in Slovenia was estimated at approximately 50 lynx. The paper additionally provides in depth description of how hunters as key stakeholders contributed to the data collection process. We highlight the importance of close partnership with hunters in wildlife monitoring programs, which can result in improved trust in the results from the monitoring, and acceptance of conservation measures.
Hunters were important partners in lynx monitoring in the scope of the LIFE Lynx project. Photo Urša Fležar
Unfortunately, systematic lynx monitoring has not yet continued after the LIFE Lynx project, so newer estimates of population size are not available. Information about the status of lynx should however be regularly and transparently provided to stakeholders and the public, to maintain trust in the ability of authorities to manage the lynx. With the crucial national strategic lynx conservation documents being adopted by the Slovenian government in 2024, the responsible authorities can implement the necessary activities for ensuring lynx monitoring and conservation in the long-term.