Ukrainian lynx in the international population restoration program

In September 2025, one of the lynxes born at Kyiv Zoo was transferred to Germany in frames of European Endangered Species Programme (EEP). Participation in the EEP – European Endangered Species Programme, coordinated by the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA), is a sign of trust and confirmation of the high professional level of KyivZoo’s work.

Eurasian lynx named Rikki was born at Kyiv Zoo on May 15, 2018. We received her father under the same Programme from the Ostrava Zoo (Czech Republic), and her mother comes from the Ukrainian population.

Rikki is currently in quarantine at the Sachsenhagen Wildlife and Species Conservation Centre (Germany). In the future, in accordance with the recommendations of EAZA, she will be transferred to the Harz National Park (Germany), where a male from the La Garenne Zoo (Switzerland) is already waiting for her. Their future offspring, after adaptation, will replenish the wild European population.

Professional comfortable transportation was organized by Dutch company Crossborder Animal Services B.V. Its transport is specially equipped for transporting wild animals over long distances.

This event is an important contribution of Ukraine to the international deed of restoring the lynx population and returning these incredible felines to the wild nature of Europe.