A woman was stunned after venturing out for a stroll on a cycle trail and discovering a “rare” creature roaming about with its young ones. She had been walking close to Maardu, situated just beyond Tallinn in Estonia, when she encountered a mother lynx accompanied by her offspring – despite these animals being renowned for their timid and reclusive behaviour.
The woman, Maarja Liiv, told Maaleht: “It really was a special moment.” She managed to film the lynx alongside four of her kittens, although only three can be seen in the footage as the fourth remained concealed within nearby bushes.
ERR News reported the uncommon encounter took place along a cycling path close to Maardu, a small town situated just beyond Tallinn. It has approximately 17,000 inhabitants, with the animal sighting regarded as proof that lynx numbers are bouncing back following a drop witnessed in recent years.
Zoologist Uudo Timm informed the publication: “In suburban sprawl areas this is a completely normal phenomenon, because not only lynxes but also other wild animals move along trails formed over centuries in the landscape and thus often reach new housing estates.”
The expert emphasised the species poses no danger to people but they are still wild creatures, so ought to be afforded distance and respect.
Should they become trapped or feel threatened, an attack becomes a possibility – though no recorded instances exist of wild lynx attacking any people.
It’s thought they would be more inclined to flee from humans – though this theory shouldn’t be tested. Timm warned the animals should not be approached, even for the sake of a quick picture or selfie – a trend he believes is particularly popular among city dwellers.
In a separate incident reported by ERR, another lynx was spotted in a neighbouring county. In the village of Mõisamaa, within the Väike-Maarja municipality of Lääne-Viru County, local resident Mari-Ann Mustasaar encountered an adult lynx perched atop a rock at a forest’s edge.
Far from fleeing, the creature seemed to be taking pleasure in surveying its surroundings and remained seated on the rock for several moments.
Mustasaar said: “I’ve never seen such a sight before. The lynx was just sitting there, ‘waiting’ for us. While the quality of the picture is not anything to shout about, the memory will remain with us for a long time.”
The video was shared online, sparking a flurry of comments. One individual said: “Amazing. So very few around.” Another praised the animal as “beautiful”.
Lynx are medium-sized wildcats that, according to the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), “live closer to you than you might think”, and inhabit “dense forests across the United States, Europe, and Asia.”
There are “four main subspecies of lynx, one of which is the well-known bobcat”.
The global non-profit, which aims to “help animals and people thrive together”, said: “Lynx live primarily solitary lives, sticking to their own territory and making dens under fallen trees or in abandoned burrows.”
It added: “As an apex predator, the lynx is an animal that plays an essential role in its ecosystem. They regulate the populations of prey species, including rabbits, rodents, and deer, which protects vegetation from being over-consumed.
“Many European countries, including the UK, have lost their lynx populations and now suffer from overpopulation of species like deer.”
