Potter Park Zoo adds pair of lynx to its collection
LANSING — Potter Park Zoo announced Monday that it has acquired a pair of 4-year-old Canadian lynx from the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium.
"These magnificent felines are settling into their new habitat at Potter Park Zoo and are already captivating visitors with their grace and beauty," the park announced online.
“We are excited for our community to have the opportunity to learn about this new species,” Zoo Director Cynthia Wagner said. “Zoo staff have enjoyed getting to know this pair and did a tremendous job preparing for their arrival.”
The Canadian lynx, a pair of brothers named Ragnar and Rollo, are a species native to the northern regions of North America. Typically found in boreal forests with dense undergrowth, the cats are renowned for their appearance and hunting behaviors.
Lynx typically weigh between 18 and 30 pounds. Lynx hunt by stalking and ambushing their prey, often snowshoe hare. One lynx can consume up to 200 hare per year, the zoo noted. When snowshoe hare are scarce, a lynx will eat squirrels, grouse, voles and other small rodents.
"Despite their adaptability and resilience, Canadian lynx face numerous conservation challenges. Aggressive logging, roadbuilding, and habitat fragmentation have significantly impacted their natural habitat, posing threats to their survival," the release said.
For more information about the Canadian lynx and other conservation initiatives at Potter Park Zoo, visit the zoo’s website.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Potter Park Zoo adds pair of Canadian lynx to animal collection
