Rescued Lynx Cub from Shirak Dies at Yerevan Zoo

On November 9, the Yerevan Zoo received a report that a lynx cub had been found and caught by local residents in the village of Bagravan, Shirak province. Videos of the incident were also spread on the internet. The Inspectorate Body, with appropriate documentation, transported the cub to the Yerevan Zoo.

"The animal arrived at the zoo late in the evening, around 10:30 PM. Specialists immediately recorded its extremely critical condition: the animal was exhausted, dehydrated, and under severe stress. By visual assessment, it was a cub of about 5-6 months, which at that age cannot yet hunt independently or survive without its mother's care. The zoo immediately provided a quiet environment, warmth, water, and food, but aggressive medical intervention was dangerous: it could have led to a quick death. Unfortunately, about an hour after being transported, the animal died. The necropsy showed that the cause of death was acute renal failure, and signs of heart failure were also recorded as a result of exhaustion and severe stress.

The Yerevan Zoo and its staff are deeply saddened by the animal's death. Unfortunately, the fatal changes in the organism had begun during the transportation, and intervention could not change the outcome.

The lynx is a feline species common in Armenia and is among the endangered species. A cub of this age could not have been alone if its parent were alive. Most likely, the animal lost its mother and approached the settlement due to hunger and cold. Under normal conditions, lynxes avoid people, which also testifies to its poor health.

The videos show that the cub was caught by hand, which is possible only with an extremely weakened animal. Unfortunately, the unintentional but overly active intervention of the local residents and subjecting the animal to stress—catching, moving, noise, taking pictures, etc.—only deepened its severe physical and psychological condition.

This case once again reminds us that in the case of wild animals, the best help is not to intervene but to immediately inform the relevant authorities.

The Yerevan Zoo thanks the Inspectorate Body for its quick response and cooperation and reaffirms its commitment to continue its work on wildlife conservation and public awareness," the zoo reported.