Today another translocated lynx was released in the forests of Snežnik. She was named by the locals involved in Local Consultative Groups in Dinaric regions of Slovenia. As the general public had already named one of the previously monitored lynxes “Snežka” as part of the DinaRis project, this time we went with “Sneška” – since she is coming from Slovakia (in Slovenian “SlovaŠKA), where she was captured as the last lynx coming from there in the scope of the LIFE Lynx project.
Lynx Sneška, released from enclosure in Snežnik area. Photo: Maruša Prostor, LIFE Lynx
Hunters opened the doors of the lynx Sneška’s quarantine enclosure. Photo: Maruša Prostor, LIFE Lynx
Who was Snežka?
The lynx Snežka was monitored by researchers from the Biology Department of the Biotechnical Faculty as part of a study on lynx space use. The lynx was fitted with a telemetry collar in the Snežnik area in 2008 and was 3-4 years old and weighed 18 kg when captured. It was then that researchers first discovered, through genetic research, the extremely high inbreeding rate among lynxes in Slovenia, and thus began efforts to set up a project to help the lynx. Snežka’s collar stopped transmitting quite quickly, but they managed to capture and fit with a collar her offspring, through which they were able to monitor her movements for some time. You may have heard of lynx Mihec – it has been more than ten years since he was captured within the DinaRis project and now within LIFE Lynx. Even now, lynx Mihec is still being recorded on the camera traps set around Snežnik.
Lynx Snežka. Photo: DinaRis
All suggested names for the new lynx:
Snežka (proposed 9x) – because it comes to the forests of Snežnik and the highest peak in the Dinarides
Snežna/Snežka – a reference to the lynx Snežka from DinaRis, a reference to Snežnik, where we hope to be her home
Sneška – Snežnik slovaŠKA
Tisa (2 x) – because the tree is very rare in our forests and is also a protected species
Vojka (2 x) – after the area of the hunting ground of Hunting club Nanos called Vojkova koča (Vojkova cottage), lynx can often be seen in the area
Jasna – JAvorniki SNežnik slovašKA (Slovakian)
Slava – because it comes from Slovakia
Dina – after the lynx Dina, who was born in 2005 probably somewhere in the Snežnik forests and was the first lynx in the world to be fitted with a GPS-GSM collar
Lina – name is internationally widespread: Greek – “sunshine”, Persian – “beautiful girl”, Arabic – “palm tree” and “tenderness”, Chinese – “beautiful”, “elegant”
Diana – Roman goddess of hunting, whose statue stands in Loška Dolina
Silva – a derivative of beech (Fagus sylvatica)
Jelka – the fir forests where she will walk
Abi – a derivative of the Latin name for fir (Abies)
Nala – after the brave lioness in the film The Lion King
Zuza – Zuzana, a modern Slovak heroine who brings the Slovak language and culture closer to everyone
Franca – a name common among the elderly in the Loška Valley below Snežnik: mothers with many children
Rosa – a little girl, gentle as the morning dew
Iza – because she will adapt easily and will take care of her offspring in her own way
Bica, Hoja, Jela, Trska, Miša, Lipa