FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM SEPTEMBER 17, 2020 • THE QUEENS COURIER 41
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Photos by Julie Larsen Maher Copyright WCS
Queens Zoo debuts three new Canada lynx cubs
BY EMILY DAVENPORT
editorial@qns.com
@QNS
Th e Queens Zoo has three new additions
to their Canada lynx exhibit that
offi cially made their public debut.
Th ree 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 medium-sized cats
with a thick grayish-brown coat and
short tail, and are easily identifi ed by
the pointed tuft s of fur on their ears
and cheeks. Th eir 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. Th eir characteristically large
paws look enormous in comparison to
their size,” said Mike Allen, Queens
Zoo director. “Th eir 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.”
Th e 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 classifi ed 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.
Th e 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), offi cially 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.
Ticketsare date-specifi c and must be
purchased in advanceonline. For a full
list of COVID-19 protocols, visit the
zoo’s Know Before You Go page.
link
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