French Jura: A lynx shot “in the act of hunting” is rescued

A bullet-wounded lynx found in the mountains was rescued by an automatic camera, which filed a complaint against the shooting teacher. The three-year-old female animal underwent surgery on Friday, said Gilles Moyne, director of the wildlife care association Center Athenas, last week in the town of Les Hauts de Bien (French department of Jura, south-west of Vallee de Joux).

The pointy-eared spotted cat was spotted in late January by an automated camera that filmed it limping on three legs in the snow. Two weeks later, the animal was found again near a chicken coop seven kilometers away. Using a cage-trap, rescuers caught him and handed him over to a vet, who, with radio support, diagnosed a gunshot wound.

“Hunting Act”

“This is an act of poaching,” the association condemns. “This woman is a victim of the hatred of this ethnic minority by an armed minority.” On Friday the association sent a complaint against X to the public prosecutor’s office of Lons-le-Saunier (capital of the Jura department) for “intentional destruction of protected species”.

But when the bullet hit the animal’s jaw, it exploded into several metal fragments. “No longer a whole projectile, which would complicate the identity of the author of the shot”, Gilles identifies Moyne and hopes the “evidence” will find him.

The previous death shot

Last September, another female lynx was found dead in Tubbs, fifty kilometers away. An autopsy also revealed a gunshot wound. The crime of poaching carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a fine of 150,000 euros.

France published its first national plan in early 2022 to protect the Eurasian lynx, which disappeared at the beginning of the 20th century. It aims to better protect Europe’s largest wild cat. According to Gilles Moyne, there are 150 adult lynx in France, 85% of which are across the Jura chain. At least four animals were killed last year, two by bullets and two by poison.

According to him, the animal that does not attack herds is a victim of the competition dispute with some hunters. Gilles Moyne assures that the increase in deer numbers in the Jura shows that this is not the case.

(AFP)Show comments