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A woman was amazed to find a “rare” specimen of fauna wandering around with her young while walking along a bike path. It happened in the vicinity of Maardu, a suburb of Tallinn in Estonia, where she was lucky enough to encounter a female lynx with her kittens, despite the animals’ reputation for being cautious and secretive.
As Maarja Liiv told Maaleht: “It was a truly unique event.” She managed to capture a lynx with four cubs, although only three kittens are visible in the photo – the fourth is hiding in the nearby bushes.
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According to ERR News, the unexpected encounter took place near Maardu, a small town of about 17,000 residents. The incident is seen as evidence that the lynx population has recovered after a decline in recent years.
Zoologist Uudo Timm explained: “This is natural for suburban areas: not only lynxes, but also other wild fauna use historically established paths that sometimes lead to new buildings.”
The specialist emphasized that this species does not pose a threat to humans, but remains wild, and therefore requires keeping a distance and being treated with respect.
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When faced with a desperate situation or feeling threatened, a lynx may attack, although there are no officially recorded cases of attacks on people.
The expert noted that animals would rather hide, but there is no point in testing this assumption. Timm urged to avoid getting close even for the sake of photographs, especially emphasizing the risks associated with the passion for selfies among city dwellers.
Another similar incident, according to ERR, occurred in the village of Mõisamaa (Väike-Maarja parish). Local resident Mari-Ann Mustasaar discovered an adult specimen sitting quietly on a boulder at the edge of a forest.
The predator not only did not hide, but seemed to be observing the surrounding area, remaining on the rock for some time.
Mustasaar shared: “It was incredible! It was like she was waiting for us. Even if the photo is not perfect, the impressions will last a lifetime.”
The video has sparked a heated discussion online. One commenter exclaimed: “Incredible! This is a rarity here.” Others admired the “gracefulness” of the animal.
According to the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), lynxes are medium-sized cats that live “closer to civilization than is commonly believed,” inhabiting “dense forests in the Americas, Europe, and Asia.”
It is specified that there are four main subspecies, including the familiar common lynx.
The organization, which advocates for the harmonious coexistence of people and animals, reports: “These predators lead a solitary lifestyle, occupying certain territories and arranging shelters among fallen trees or in old burrows.”
The publication adds: “As a key element of the ecosystem, the lynx controls the number of herbivores – hares, rodents, deer – preventing excessive destruction of vegetation.”
“Many European countries, including the UK, have lost local populations, leading to uncontrolled growth of deer populations.”
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