MONITORING OF LYNX (Lynx lynx) REPRODUCTION IN CROATIA USING CAMERA TRAPS

Euroazijski ris (Lynx lynx) je najveća hrvatska mačka koja je početkom 19. stoljeća izumrla zbog gubitka staništa, plijena te proganjanja od strane ljudi. Nakon više od pola stoljeća uspostavljena je dinarska populacija reintrodukcijom šest jedinki, tri mužjaka te tri ženke sa slovačkih Karpata u Sloveniju, od kuda se proširila u Hrvatsku te Bosnu i Hercegovinu. Posljedično, došlo je do parenja u srodstvu, smanjene genske raznolikosti te pada broja populacije, stoga je vrsta proglašena zaštićenom u sve tri države. Jedan od važnih pokazatelja stanja populacije jest reprodukcija. Cilj ovog istraživanja je bio pratiti reprodukciju risa u Hrvatskoj u razdoblju 1.5.2018. – 31.4.2021., odnosno tijekom tri reproduktivne sezone. Fotografije i videa su prikupljeni primarno pomoću fotozamki LIFE Lynx projekta, te su Veterinarskom fakultetu Sveučilišta u Zagrebu ustupile druge institucije i pojedinci. Reprodukcija je zabilježena na području četiri županije – Ličko-senjske, Primorsko-goranske, Zadarske te Karlovačke, te se procjenjuje minimalan broj mladunaca od 21 do 23 jedinke po reproduktivnoj sezoni. Veličina legla varira od 1 do 3 mladunaca, a mladunci su zabilježeni tijekom cijele godine s izuzetkom travnja, svibnja te lipnja.Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) is the largest Croatian cat that became extinct at the beginning of the 19th century due to habitat and prey loss and persecution by humans. After more than half a century, the Dinaric population was established by the reintroduction of six individuals, three males and three females from the Slovak Carpathians to Slovenia, from where population spread to Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Consequently, inbreeding, reduced genetic diversity and declining populations have occurred, so the species has been declared protected in all three countries. One of the important indicators of the state of the population is reproduction. The aim of this research was to monitor the reproduction of lynx in Croatia in the period 1.5.2018. - 31.4.2021., during three reproductive seasons. Photographs and videos were collected primarily using the camera traps of the LIFE Lynx project, and were provided to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb by other institutions and individuals. Reproduction was recorded in four counties – Lika-Senj, Primorje-Gorski Kotar, Zadar and Karlovac, and the minimum number of cubs is estimated at 21 to 23 individuals per reproductive season. Litter size varies from 1 to 3 cubs, and cubs are recorded throughout the year with the exception of April, May and June. Eurasian lynx, Lynx lynx, reproduction, cubs, camera trap