Goldau zoo: young people after 25 years

In mid -May, Luchsbabies were born in the Goldau zoo. Visitors will soon be able to admire the young animals in the park.

A sensation in the Goldau zoo: for the first time in a quarter of a century, young people were born again. Birth is not only a special feature for the park, but also an important contribution to the European Spirit Protection Program, according to a message from the zoo.

The seven -year -old femal female Matra came to the zoo in Goldau in January. It didn’t take long for her to pair herself with the eight -year -old Luchsmännchen Bagheera. In mid -May, Matra finally gave birth to her offspring. Pascal Marty, curator of the Goldau Nature and Zoo, was the first to see the young animals: «It is nice that there are now young animals in Goldau. We can now make a decisive contribution to receiving the lynx population. » The exact number of young animals has not yet been known because the mother is currently not being disturbed with her young. « But we are currently starting at least two young animals, » he explains.

In the first few days the young animals are helpless

Matra is supposed to live as natural as possible in Goldau. She is a rather curious and relaxed lynx lady, explains the curator. However, he emphasizes that it becomes trusting. « It is best if she continues to ignore us. »

Young lynxes are born blindly. They only open their eyes after ten to twelve days, and around ten days later they take their first attempts at walking. The rearing only takes over the female. As soon as the young lynxes start exploring the facility after six to eight weeks, visitors can also catch a glimpse of them.

The offspring is part of a Europe -wide coordinated species protection program. The genetic diversity of the lynx population is to be ensured: both for planned release and to stabilize the lynx population in zoos. Therefore, the Goldau Nature and Zoo received an official breeding recommendation for 2025.

Unsuitable system for release

However, the Goldau lynx is currently not planned. The existing facility is not designed to prepare young animals for a life in the wild. The little ones stay with their mother for a year until they will be handed over to other zoos and zoos for breeding in the next spring, Marty explains. The next generation should then be released.

In the long term, however, the zoo plans to modernize the lynx system. « With a modern system, we can take part in release projects in the future and help shape the protection of the European lynx. »

The Goldau Nature and Zoo also acts as a collecting and care station: some time ago, orphaned young lynxes were absorbed in Goldau. The cantons are responsible for the release. However, a lynx had to be shot later after he had torn sheep. However, this is atypical for lynxes – sheep is not part of their natural prey. In order to prepare the animals in the best possible way, they get food that corresponds to their natural prey spectrum during rearing – such as roe deer, says Marty.