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The Balkan Lynx - An unknown treasure (E. Keçi)
Our nature is being destroyed for a long
time and left outside our attention. Many animals are endangered and threatened
by extinction and people seem to show no interest for this, becoming so part of
a quiet catastrophe that is taking over our natural values.
One of these threatened values is the lynx,
an animal living in the forests of central and north Albania. Our lynx
population is part of the Balkan Lynx population, considered as a separate
subspecies Lynx lynx martinoi, with
no more than 100 individuals left. In spite of his special values and his
critical status, people’s awareness towards this animal is practically
inexistent. We are becoming unwittingly accomplices for the extinction of a
fantastic animal that represents values, for which, we should be proud.
Recently a multi-lateral project has started to
ensure the survival of the Balkan Lynx. Parts of this initiative are
organizations like IUCN SSC/Cat Specialist Group, KORA – Switzerland, European
Nature Heritage Fund (Euronatur) and Norwegian Institute for Nature Research
(NINA). On the regional level implementing partners are the Society for
Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania (PPNEA) and
Macedonian Ecological Society (MES). |