A rare birth in captivity - Come See the Lynx Cub at the Biodôme

MONTREAL, Aug. 15, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - There's something new at the Montréal Space for Life! This morning a 10-week old lynx cub made his debut in the refurbished habitat in the Laurentian Maple Forest ecosystem at the Montréal Biodôme. His birth was quite an event, given the many challenges associated with breeding animals in captivity. Visitors will now be able to see the cub exploring his new environment from day to day, under his mother's watchful eye. The young lynx will probably play hide and seek, learn to climb trees, leap from rock to rock … and head back to his mother for reassurance. Don't miss the opportunity to meet this new member of the Biodôme's large family. It's also a great chance to explore the ecosystems yourself, and take a fascinating trip through the Americas!

A remarkable birth at the Biodôme
In May, the animal keepers at the Biodôme suspected that the six-year-old female lynx was pregnant, judging by her weight gain and her behaviour. Since she was looking for a dark, safe place to give birth, a wooden shelter was built over her rest area. The lynx cub was born during the night of May 26-27, in good health, while two other cubs died within just a few days. The surviving cub has done very well since then. He is still nursing, but has recently been developing a taste for small game. On July 26, during his general check-up, he received his first vaccination without any complaints. He weighs just over 2.3 kg.

Mother knows best
Over the next few months, the young lynx will be alone with his mother in the Laurentian Maple Forest habitat. During this time the six-year-old father will be kept in night quarters, out of sight of the general public, where he will be offered a training and enrichment program by the Biodôme's keepers. Just as in the wild, the female raises her cub alone, since males can be a threat to their offspring. So the cub will develop his reflexes and physical abilities under his mother's tutelage, with the help of the Biodôme's keepers and in full sight of our visitors.

Not so easy, reproduction in captivity!
Lynx have a low success rate when it comes to breeding in captivity. From 1999 to 2009, the average North American birth rate for Canada lynx was 1.45 cubs per year. The Biodôme, a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA), is very proud of this birth - doubtless the result of the quality care provided for the some 4,500 animals displayed for the general public and the good excellent environmental conditions in their habitats, which faithfully reproduce conditions in the wild.

The Montréal Space for Life, which brings together the Biodôme, Botanical Garden, Insectarium and Planetarium, is launching a daring, creative urban movement, urging everyone to rethink the bonds between humankind and nature. The Space for Life is also a place where people come together to create and to cultivate a new way of living, shaped by Montrealers and people from around the world.

SOURCE: VILLE DE MONTREAL - BIODOME DE MONTREAL

For further information:

Nadine Fortin, Communications Co-ordinator
514 868-3053/ 514 250-7753
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Anik Robichaud-Gauvin, Marketing Representative
514 868-3123
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