Le Figaro Lyon
On Saturday, hunters from the Rhône saw a lynx west of Lyon, in the town of Vaugneray during a beat.
Four people have formally identified the animal, indicates Le Progrès which reports the information.
Seeing this feline 20 km from Lyon is a novelty, the animal being more familiar with the Jura mid-mountains.
“
Scientific work from the 19th century shows that at the time, the forest had almost disappeared from the department and therefore that this species could not live there because it needs prey such as roe deer or chamois.
His return to the mountains of Lyonnais is therefore an event
, ”explains to
Figaro
Didier Dailly, engineer in the technical service of the federation of hunters in the Rhône in charge of the large predator file and also correspondent for the French Office for Biodiversity.
Today there are approximately 70,000 hectares of forest in the department compared to three times less 170 years ago.
This green corridor therefore allowed this predator to move around the territory more easily.
Unlikely to see him in the center of Lyon
Enough for it to get even closer to the heart of the Lyon metropolis?
Not sure, says the engineer: “
There have been a few observations in town in the Jura where
lynx populations are abundant
(150 individuals, Ed).
But the city is not the space that I will mention first when speaking of a lynx.
This animal is not a carnivore that feeds on waste.
He is not a scavenger or very little so there is little chance of seeing him come to Lyon.
On the other hand, it will follow the populations of prey and we now see deer in peri-urban areas, so why not in these places.
»
Photo traps soon to be deployed
It now remains to be seen whether this lynx was only passing through or whether he wishes to settle more permanently near Vaugneray.
Photo traps will soon be installed on the observation site to learn more about the animal.
“
What is interesting with the lynx is that its coat works like a fingerprint.
There are no two lynxes with similar coats.
By comparing it with our databases, we will be able to find out if it is already known, where it has been observed, etc.,
” explains Didier Dailly.
As for the ecosystems of the Monts du Lyonnais, not used to the presence of this predator, they should not be destabilized by this new host, concludes the representative of the federation of hunters.
“
Locally it is even rather interesting because it can play a sanitary role by eliminating sick or weak deer.
The presence of predators can always be useful as long as their abundance is not artificial.
»
SEE ALSO
- Wildlife: is it absolutely necessary to save the lynx in France?
