The MES members in charge of the program for protection the Balkan lynx succeeded in capturing Marko the lynx for the second time on 22 October 2010. The aim of this action was for the MES members to replace the already existing GPS/GSM device, which Marko wore for more than 7 months, as well as to take new body parameters (weight, length, etc.).
The activities are carried out in the framework of the programme SCOPES programme (Scientific Co-operation Between Eastern Europe and Switzerland) and the project “Status, ecology and land tenure of the critically endangered Balkan lynx Lynx lynx martinoi in Macedonia and Albania”.
Provided here are complete map of Marko’s home range, from the first time he was caught on 14 March 2010 until 27 October 2010, as well as pictures of the second time they caught him.
The method of working comprised positioning traps of fresh prey from Marko. The first step was locating the victim. The challenge was big because the GPS signal in the last few days was unavailable due to the weak batteries of the device. Marko was supposed to be found with a VHF antenna signal, and nobody knew where the lynx was in the last 10 days. Marko was detected during the first try, near the prey, an adult chamois, which the lynx hunted down the same day. Marko was caught on the fourth day in the afternoon, 1.5 hour after the setting of the trap. Following the protocol designed by our Swiss partners of the organisation KORA, Marko was first sedated in order to make it easier for the MES members to work with him. The GPS device was replaced with a new one, body parameters were taken and the external health condition of the fur, nails and mouth was checked. Visually, the lynx looks healthy and in the period of 7 month it put on 4-5 kilos, which is +25%.
The territory where Marko lives and moves is 331 km2, which represents almost half of the territory of the Mavrovo National Park. This fact shows the need for a bigger individual territory for a normal life and development of this predator.
The fact that the lynx is not present in the bigger part of the territory of the country is but a telltale about its lacking protection, degraded habitats and reduced prey availability. Although the National strategy for protection of the biodiversity points out the need for protection of particular species, the implementation of the already existing laws should be on a much higher level than the existing one!