Where do the lynxes of the Jura, the French massif where the feline is most present, come from? Who reintroduced them and when? On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the reintroduction of the lynx in the Jura massif (1974-2024), let's take a look at its history.
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“They were released in the Swiss Jura and crossed to France on their own,” book by Yves Bongard, head of the Avenir Loup Lynx Jura association for the canton of Neuchâtel. There were two official releases in this Swiss canton in 1974 and 1975. Two pairs of lynx were also released in the Vaudois Jura in 1974.
Why did Switzerland decide to reintroduce the lynx on its territory? Why had the lynx disappeared in Switzerland and France? During the second half of the 19th century, Switzerland experienced economic growth. The country is industrializing and accelerating the overexploitation of its forests. “From the moment we no longer have forests, the ungulate population disappears,” notes Yves Bongard. Ungulates are animals whose feet end in hooves such as deer, roe deer and chamois.
Among the large predators present in Europe, the lynx is therefore the most sensitive to the destruction of its natural habitat.
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© M. CH?NE & F. LAUNETTE / MAXPPP
“From then on, the lynx had nothing to eat and moved closer to farm animals”. Their rapprochement with humans therefore intensified and facilitated their persecution. Additionally, unlike wolves and bears, lynx rely solely on hunting for food. Wolves can rely on carrion, and bears can hibernate and feed on plants, while lynx must have a minimum of ungulates to hunt. Among the large predators present in Europe, the lynx is the most sensitive to the destruction of its natural habitat.
In the French Jura, the feline had also disappeared at the end of the 19th century. At that time, occurred, as in Switzerland, “a pure and simple massacre of all wildlife”, testifies Patrice Raydelet, founder and secretary of the Pôle Grands Prédateurs Jura. And to add: “There was a lot of deforestation, there were no more chamois or deer left”. The last trace of a lynx dates back to 1885, when the last lynx in the French Jura was killed. “It was in the town of Salins-les-Bains”.
“In the 19th century, the Swiss government decided that it was necessary to replenish the forests”, says Yves Bongard. Ungulate populations have gradually recovered thanks to improved protection and management, but also thanks to active reintroduction. “We realized that there was room for a predator because there were too many ungulates and that was creating problems in the forest, so the lynx was welcome at that time,” he explains. Year-round hunting bans allowed lynx populations that were still present in Scandinavia, North-Eastern Europe and the Carpathians to recover from the mid-20th century.
Year-round hunting bans allowed the lynx population to recover from the mid-20th century in western Europe.
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© PHILIPPE CL?MENT / MAXPPP
But the feline has not recovered naturally in the western part of Europe. Forest regions have been fragmented by roads, industrial zones or even agricultural deserts. A pair of lynx captured in southern Czechoslovakia was taken to Switzerland via the Ostrava and Basel zoos and released on April 23, 1971 in the canton of Obwalden. In total, 16 individuals were reintroduced between 1971 and 1980 in the Swiss Alps and 10 others between 1972 and 1975 in the Jura. All were from the Carpathians.
It was the region, the canton that took care of the released people. Switzerland wanted to reintroduce lynx and called on volunteers like Archibald Quartier.
Yves Bongard, head of the Avenir Loup Lynx Jura association
According to Yves Bongard, this reintroduction was done with discretion: “Everything was done on the sly. There were no official announcements”. Reintroductions were carried out during the summers of 1974 and 1975, in July. “Each time, we find press articles from September with the question: Are there lynx in the canton or not?” he specifies.
On September 23, 1975, an official press conference announced that a pair of lynxes had been reintroduced during the summer. On this occasion, the authorities justified their delay in communication: “Why didn't we say anything? Because it was the only way to prove irrefutably that it wasn't a problem”.
The reception of the lynx in the French Jura was initially hostile. “The first female to cross to the French side was killed in 1974”specifies Patrice Raydelet. Subsequently, the arrival of lynx was received with great suspicion. “People didn't know this animal. Decades later, they still thought it was an exotic animal”. During the 80s and 90s, the lynx became a sensitive subject, there were conflicts between pro and anti-lynx. “In the Jura, the word lynx was taboo”, he emphasizes.
However, the lynx did not have as bad an image as the wolf among the general public. “The good thing he is is that he has a beautiful face. The population immediately compared him to a big cat. That worked in his favor,” comments Patrice Raydelet. The French Jura is estimated to have around 150 individuals. Today, “acceptance is almost unanimous among the population of the Jura massif”.
Let's celebrate 50 years of the return of the lynx to the Jura
On November 9 and 10, 2024, at the Carcom in Lons-le-Saunier, the Large Predators Center is organizing a weekend dedicated to the feline. Exhibitions, stands, shop, conferences, show, screening of a film on Saturday evening, participatory activities… Free and free entry all weekend.
