Restoring Eurasian lynx populations across Central Europe is an important conservation achievement. But ensuring their long-term survival requires more than successful reintroductions. A new international study, co-authored by DivjaLabs lead scientists & director Dr. Tomaž Skrbinšek, highlights the urgent need to strengthen existing populations and improve genetic connectivity between them.
Published in the scientific journal Evolutionary Applications, the study, A Conservation Roadmap for the Anticipated Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx) Metapopulation in Central Europe—Modelling Effective Deme Sizes and Connectivity, was led by researchers from Senckenberg Nature Research in Germany, in collaboration with research institutions and conservation organisations across Europe.
Why connectivity matters
Although Eurasian lynx have been successfully reintroduced to several regions of Central Europe, many populations remain small and geographically isolated. This makes them vulnerable to inbreeding and the gradual loss of genetic diversity, potentially threatening their long-term survival.
The study examined how these populations could develop into a connected metapopulation—a network of populations exchanging individuals and genetic material.
Using mathematical models, the researchers evaluated ten conservation scenarios, investigating how population sizes, migration rates, and connections between populations influence long-term genetic viability.
Key findings: Strengthen existing populations and restore connections
The results reveal that current and anticipated near-future population sizes and connectivity are insufficient to ensure long-term genetic stability, even over hundreds of generations.
The researchers identified several priorities for conservation:
- Strengthen existing populations: Increasing population sizes and maintaining genetic diversity are essential, particularly in vulnerable populations such as those in the Dinaric Mountains and Eastern Alps.
- Improve connectivity: Facilitating natural dispersal and genetic exchange between populations is crucial for long-term viability.
- Reconnect populations with the Carpathians: Establishing genetic exchange with the native Carpathian lynx population could substantially improve the prospects for the wider Central European metapopulation.
- Prioritise strategic conservation actions: Reinforcing existing populations and reducing dispersal barriers should take priority over establishing additional isolated populations.
The findings also underline the importance of addressing human-related threats, including habitat fragmentation, road mortality, and illegal killing.
International scientific collaboration
The research was led by Gregor Rolshausen and Carsten Nowak from Senckenberg Nature Research, with contributions from Christine Breitenmoser, Jarmila Krojerová-Prokešová, and Tomaž Skrbinšek.
The participating institutions and organisations included:
- Senckenberg Nature Research, Conservation Genetics Group & Centre for Wildlife Genetics, Germany
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics, Germany
- Foundation KORA, Switzerland
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic
- Mendel University in Brno, Faculty of AgriSciences, Czech Republic
- University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Slovenia
- DivjaLabs, Slovenia
The research was a joint effort of the Genetics Working Group of the international Linking Lynx network, which promotes cooperation in Eurasian lynx conservation and management across Europe.
Genetic research supporting conservation decisions
At DivjaLabs, we are proud to contribute to international research that helps translate conservation genetics into practical wildlife management.
Our director, Dr. Tomaž Skrbinšek, co-authored the study, bringing expertise in population genetics and the genetic monitoring of large carnivores.
The study reinforces a central principle of effective conservation: successful species recovery is not simply about increasing the number of animals. It is about establishing genetically diverse, connected, and resilient populations capable of persisting over generations.
By combining genetic monitoring, population modelling, and international cooperation, researchers and conservation managers can make better-informed decisions about where conservation efforts will have the greatest long-term impact.
Read the scientific publication
Rolshausen, G., Breitenmoser, C., Krojerová-Prokešová, J., Skrbinšek, T., & Nowak, C. (2026). A Conservation Roadmap for the Anticipated Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx) Metapopulation in Central Europe—Modelling Effective Deme Sizes and Connectivity. Evolutionary Applications, 19, e70340.