Spain has long treated lynx as a highly protected species with fines and even jail time for harming one of these animals. In contrast, Sweden recently opened the door to hunting, deciding to allow 201 individuals to be hunted, a number that doubles last year. The move followed a government decision ratified just weeks earlier and is widely referred to as the biggest wolf massacre in recent history.
The policy surprised both experts and ordinary citizens who believed these cats posed little threat to people or livestock, and that hunting them was motivated by trophy preferences rather than safety concerns. Svenska Jägareförbundet, the Swedish hunting association, told a newspaper that the hunt was not warranted by any danger to humans. They added that wolves are not a risk to people in modern Sweden and that the idea of hunting wolves for protection is unfounded.
One observer noted that lynx hunting appears to be driven by recreation and, for some hunters, fur is a key motivation.
Image caption: An Eurasian lynx verified
The Eurasian lynx stands as Europe’s third largest predator after the brown bear and the wolf and is among the continent’s most widely distributed wild cats.
Population dynamics show a mix of pressures. Food shortages, inbreeding, habitat loss, vehicle collisions, and poaching for fur have all affected lynx numbers. From near extinction at the start of the last century, conservation efforts helped the species recover, yet it remains endangered in many areas with population declines that raise concerns about future survival.
Last month a team of environmentalists reported that the lynx population in France has dwindled to roughly 120 to 150 adults. They warned that genetic diversity is dangerously low, risking extinction within about three decades. DNA analyses indicate very limited genetic variation, reflecting an effective population size far smaller than the actual numbers suggest.
By comparison, Sweden’s lynx population is larger, estimated around 1,450 individuals, yet this figure marks a decrease from a decade ago when counts were higher.
According to Svenska Rovdjursföreningen, an animal rights group, the newly allowed hunting quota is unethical and unsustainable. They argue the hunt intrudes on the lynx mating season and constitutes a clear violation of regional wildlife protections. Observers also note that dogs are sometimes used to flush lynx from hiding, making them easier targets.
Lynx are reportedly Sweden’s most popular carnivore according to data from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. The advocacy group Svenska Rovdjursföreningen has launched a campaign to stop the brutal trophy hunt.
Also hunting wolves
In January, Sweden resumed wolf hunting despite concerns about the species’ status. State authorities allowed 75 wolves to be hunted, the highest number permitted since wolves disappeared in the country during the 1960s.
Since the arrival of three wolves from Finland and Russia and the birth of a first cub in 1983, Sweden has seen a steady increase in wolf numbers, with the most recent census reporting around 460 animals. Hunters and breeders’ organizations argue that this population is still too large and that culling 75 wolves will not be enough to restore balance.
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Attempts to reconcile conservation goals with hunting policies continue to spark debate among policymakers, conservationists, and local communities. The broader question remains how to protect vulnerable wildlife populations while respecting cultural traditions and hunting practices that have deep historical roots in the region.