QUEENS ZOO DEBUTS THREE
NEW CANADA LYNX CUBS
BY EMILY DAVENPORT
The Queens Zoo has three
new additions to their Canada
lynx exhibit that officially
made their public debut.
Three lynx cubs — one
male and two female — were
born in May while the zoo
was closed during COVID-19.
During that time, they bonded
with their mother and are
now mature enough to begin
exploring their exhibit.
Canada lynx are mediumsized
cats with a thick grayish
brown coat and short
tail, and are easily identified
by the pointed tufts of
fur on their ears and cheeks.
Their oversized paws act as
snowshoes to prevent them
from sinking in deep snow
during the harsh winters of
their native range, which
spans Alaska, Canada and
portions of the northern and
western continental United
States.
“Lynx cubs are really fun
to watch at this age. Their
characteristically large
paws look enormous in comparison
to their size,” said
Mike Allen, Queens Zoo director.
“Their playful stalking
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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 three cubs were born
as a breeding recommendation
from the Canada Lynx
Species Survival Plan (SSP),
a cooperative breeding program
designed to enhance
the genetic viability of animal
populations in zoos and
aquariums accredited by
the Association of Zoos and
Aquariums (AZA). Canada
lynx populations are healthy
in some portions of their
range, and the species is
classified as Least Concern
by the International Union
for the Conservation of Nature
(IUCN). In the United
States, where their numbers
have declined due to fur trapping
and habitat destruction,
they are protected under the
Endangered Species Act.
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
Photo Credit: Julie Larsen Maher © WCS
York Aquarium), officially
reopened to the public in
accordance with New York
State COVID-19 safety guidelines.
All guests over 3 years
old are required to wear a
face covering or mask.
Tickets are date-specific
and must be purchased in
advance online. For a full
list of COVID-19 protocols,
visit the zoo’s Know Before
You Go page.
Reach reporter Emily Davenport
by e-mail at edavenport@
qns.com or by phone at
(718) 260-2567
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