Estimating the population density of Eurasian lynx in the Ukrainian part of the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone using camera trap footage

Gashchak, S; Barnett, CL; Beresford, NA; Paskevych, S; Wood, M.D.

Abstract

The study reports the first estimation of the Eurasian lynx population inhabiting the
Ukrainian Chornobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ, 2600 km2
) in 2013–2018. Although
lynx were once common in this region, anthropogenic impacts reduced their numbers substantially by the 19th century, leaving lynx as only occasional visitors to
the area. In 1986, after an accident on the Chornobyl NPP, the human population
was removed from the areas affected by radioactive contamination, and regular
economic activity was stopped there. As a result, a gradual recovery of the lynx
population was observed. Assessments of the given study are based on camera trap
data obtained from wildlife studies conducted in 2013–2018 over nearly 30% of
total CEZ area. The number of locations where the camera traps worked simultaneously ranged from 5 to 89. Lynx was recorded 302 times, including 125 observations of 50 identifiable individuals. The total size of the lynx population was estimated to be approximately 53 to 68 individuals of all sex and age groups. For the
identified lynx, sex was defined for 22 individuals: 6 females and 16 males. Eleven
of 50 identified individuals were cubs. Over the whole period 6 family groups were
recorded, 5 of which were females that had 2 cubs, and one a female with a single
cub. Most of the identified lynx (33 of 50) were each recorded in one location only.
In those cases when the individuals were repeatedly observed in two or more locations (up to 6), the maximum distance between locations ranged from 1 to 23 km
(mean distance = 1.9 km). The density of animals was approximately 2.2–2.7 individuals per 100 km2
, which is comparable to other areas of Europe where conditions are favourable for this species. Whilst only a preliminary estimate, our results
indicate that 32 years after the Chornobyl NPP accident, the CEZ has one of the
highest lynx populations in Ukraine. Conditions for lynx are favourable in the CEZ
because it has abundant prey species (roe deer and red deer), high forest cover
(more than 63%), absence of a residential human population, no agricultural activity, a low level of disturbance from other human activity, and the area has protected
status. The recovery of lynx in the CEZ demonstrates the conservation benefits that
even unmanaged re-wilding can achieve.

Citation

Gashchak, S., Barnett, C., Beresford, N., Paskevych, S., & Wood, M. (2022). Estimating the population density of Eurasian lynx in the Ukrainian part of the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone using camera trap footage. Theriologia Ukrainica (Online), 23, 47-65. https://doi.org/10.15407/TU2307

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 30, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Sep 5, 2022
• Publication Date: Sep 5, 2022
• Deposit Date: Sep 14, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 14, 2022
• Journal: Theriologia Ukrainica
• Print ISSN: 2616-7379
• Electronic ISSN: 2617-1120
• Volume: 23
• Pages: 47-65
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.15407/TU2307
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.15407/TU2307
• Additional Information: Funders : Natural Environment Research Council (NERC);Environment Agency;Radioactive Waste Management Ltd.; Projects : TREE;RED FIRE; Grant Number: NE/L000520/1; Grant Number: NE/P015212/1