The Canada lynx habitat at the Queens Zoo is exciting as three lynx cubs have made their public debut.
This delightful trio, comprising one male and two females, was born in May while the zoo was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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During this period, the cubs bonded with their mother and matured enough to explore their exhibit.
The Queens Zoo Director Mike Allen shared his enthusiasm about the young lynx: “Lynx cubs are fun to watch at this age. Their characteristically large paws look enormous in comparison to their size. Their playful stalking and pouncing is how they learn to hunt in the wild. Our guests will enjoy watching their development and the opportunity to observe these behaviors as the cubs mature.”
The trio’s birth resulted from a breeding recommendation from the Canada Lynx Species Survival Plan (SSP), a cooperative breeding program to enhance the genetic diversity of zoo and aquarium animal populations. The program is part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
Canada lynx are medium-sized cats with a thick grayish-brown coat and a short tail. They are easily recognized by the pointed tufts of fur on their ears and cheeks and their oversized paws, which act as snowshoes to prevent them from sinking into deep snow during harsh winters.
Their native range includes Alaska, Canada, and parts of the northern and western United States.
While Canada lynx populations are healthy in some regions and are classified as Least Concern by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), they are protected under the Endangered Species Act in the United States due to declines caused by fur trapping and habitat destruction.
The Queens Zoo, along with the other four Wildlife Conservation Society parks in New York City (Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, and New York Aquarium), has reopened to the public following COVID-19 safety guidelines issued by the State of New York.
All visitors over three years old must wear masks; tickets are date-specific and must be purchased online. For a complete list of COVID-19 protocols, visit the zoo’s “Know Before You Go” page.
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