Lynx & Capercaillie – Croatia -EUROPA 2021
EURASIAN LYNX
The Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) is the largest European cat. It is one of the most widely distributed cat species, thus it is classified as Least Concerned. In Croatia it can be found in Gorski kotar, Velebit and Lika. According to the latest official estimate from 2010, there are 40 to 60 individuals living in Croatia, with a declining trend, so in our country the lynx is a highly endangered and strictly protected species. The major causes of endangerment are inbreeding, habitat destruction and fragmentation and poaching.
The autochthonous lynx from Croatia disappeared at the beginning of the 20th century, and the entire present-day population originates from six individuals brought to Slovenia from Slovakia back in 1973. The population began to decline again in the 1990s, and genetics have shown that it is mainly due to inbreeding. Therefore, the LIFE project of introducing lynx from Romania and Slovakia to Croatia and Slovenia is currently underway in order to enrich the gene pool and increase the existing population, as well as to connect the Alpine and Dinaric populations. The inhabited animals and their offspring are tracked using camera traps and GPS collars.
WESTERN CAPERCAILLIE
The Western capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) is our largest forest bird that originates from the Ice Age. In Croatia, they live on Velebit and in Gorski Kotar, in mixed and coniferous forests on mountain peaks reaching 1000 meters above sea level and higher, where they find shelter on the branches of old trees and an abundance of food. Globally, due to its large range, capercaillies are assessed as being of Least Concern, but their numbers are declining due to climate change, habitat loss and changes in habitat conditions, tourism, collisions of young birds with power lines and too many predators such as foxes, martens, crows as well as poaching. Due to its declining population, the capercaillie is strictly protected in Croatia and is considered an endangered species
15 Kuna – Lynx – Print Run – 100,000
3.30 Kuna- Western Capercaillie -Print Run -100,000
Date of Issue- 07 May 2021
Stamp Digest 