Opponents from nature conservation

Hunting law criticized: “No danger from lynxes!”

Should lynxes still have a place in our forests in the future?

(Bild: Naturschutzbund/Robert Hofrichter)

Should lynxes also be released for shooting prematurely in future? Nature conservation representatives are railing against the draft amendment to the Salzburg Hunting Act and are currently preparing a petition.

In addition to the wolf, the handling of lynxes is also regulated here: The amendment to the Hunting Act provides for the possibility of preventive shooting without a kill. "This is pure propaganda. It creates a feeling of unease among the population," rages Winfried Herbst from the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union.

But how many lynx are there anyway? The population in Austria is estimated at around 40 animals. A few years ago, there was an illegal cull in the Bavarian-Salzburg border region. There are reintroduction ideas in individual areas from the Salzkammergut to Styria.

Lynx "extremely shy"
Herbst considers the shooting regulation to be excessive: Europe's largest cat poses no danger to humans. "Lynx are extremely shy", says Herbst. Even lynx mothers would not defend their young against humans. Provincial deputy Marlene Svazek (FPÖ) states that the Fauna-Flora-Habitat Directive provides additional protection for the lynx. It is a "purely preventative measure".