Lynxes Still On the Loose
Two lynxes that escaped from a zoo near Tartu last week are still on the lam.
The State Forest Management Center's Elistvere zoo is home to seven lynxes who were all born and raised in captivity - technically, an area of woodland bounded by a 2.5 meter high fence.
During Friday's wintry weather, a tree bent under the weight of the snow and allowed three of the big cats to escape.
"To this point we haven't had any lynxes escape but since it was evening and a long night was ahead when lynxes are active, they just walked out," said zoo director Sirje Saul.
One lynx is back after walking into a trap borrowed from the Fund for Nature. The trap was not baited; the lynx is drawn to the box by inquisitiveness.
The lynxes are not considered to pose a danger to humans, and concern is for the welfare of the animals themselves.
Elistvere zoo is a homegrown zoo for all of Estonia's native fauna.