The document discusses a GPS tracking project involving lynx and deer in the Bavarian and Bohemian Forest National Parks. It provides details about: 1) One male lynx named Milan was fitted with a GPS collar to track its movements over 42 days, covering 261 km and having a home range of 33,400 hectares. 2) The project aims to use GPS tracking technology to collect accurate, real-time data on lynx movements and predator-prey relationships between lynx and deer to better understand how the returned predator influences deer populations. 3) Fittings lynxes and deer with collars will provide more information to analyze lynx behavior and

1. Nationalpark
Bayerischer Wald
Sumava
Nationalpark
by
Marco Heurich, Hans Kiener
and
Luděk Bufka
Introduction
Following the initial authorized release of 17 lynx into what is today the Sumava National Park, the
lynx has been successfully repopulating its traditional habitat along the frontier crest since the
early nineties. This forest cat, who is active throughout a wide, cross-border area, has become the
symbol of the largest forest complex in Central Europe and is used to advertise this attractive
holiday region. Following the initial euphoria over increasing numbers in the mid-nineties, the lynx
population has been slowing down in recent years.
Together, the Bavarian and Bohemian Forest National Parks are currently the main habitat of the
lynx. This is where the forest cat is primarily active and also where it feels safe enough to breed
regularly. As part of a joint partnership, the two National Park administrations consider it one of
their primary duties in the area of conservation and research to sustain the population of this
highly symbolic species.
Improved coordination of terrestrial monitoring during the winter half year (checking tracks
following fresh snowfall) and prompt mutual exchange of monitoring results should provide a
useful basis for estimating the population, as well as determining reproduction rates and the size
of the current area of activity.
A primary focus over the coming years will be to investigate across borders how the lynx uses its
habitat in the current centre of activity in East Bavaria and to determine the role of the species in
the mountain forest ecosystem (deer-lynx predator-prey relationship) on both sides of the border.
The aim here is also to break new ground in lynx research based on the results of satellite-
supported deer telemetry. After a sufficiently effective and light GPS transmitter collar had been
developed, it was possible to test satellite-supported telemetry with an adult lynx male for the first
time at the beginning of March 2005. Data relating to the whereabouts of the animal detected by
GPS satellite can be retrieved any time at any interval by text message, and then analyzed and
used for specific purposes, to implement necessary management and protection measures for
example. Until now, an average of 34% of all localization attempts have been successful.
Project development
Initially, to test the GPS-GSM technology (illustration 1) on the lynx, two adult males will be fitted
with transmitters. When the pilot phase has been successfully completed, the plan is to fit several
lynxes with transmitters on both sides of the border as part of a cross-border project. Using the
deer that have been fitted with the same technology, the project also aims to investigate the
interaction between the deer and lynx in an extensive, naturally-developing mountain forest
ecosystem.

2. Illustration 1: How the transmitter collar works - The position of the lynx is determined via GPS
satellite. The lynx then sends a text message to the researchers who can visualize the animal's
position on the PC (Author: Rösner)
First lynx caught
So far during the pilot phase, one lynx – named Milan – has been fitted with a transmitter. The
male cat, weighing 22.5 kg, was fitted with a GPS-GSM transmitter on 7th
March 2005 (illustration
2). The animal was caught in the National Park's lynx enclosure where he had been visiting the
resident female during the mating season.

3. Illustration 2: Picture of the male lynx Milan after being fitted with a
transmitter. The animal is three years old and weighs 22.5 kilograms (photo:
Burghart)
During the first 42 days, the animal covered a distance of 261 kilometres, about 6.2 kilometres per
day on average. The home range calculated so far is 33400 hectares (MCP) or 21770 hectares
(95% core range).
Of particular note are the star-shaped movements of the animal through the prowling area. Milan
has a relatively small core habitat (2106 hectares 50% core range) from which he makes trips of
up to 20 kilometres on any given night to hunt deer. Once he has finished with the kill, he returns
to this core area (illustration 3).
Illustration 3: Movements of Milan the lynx linked in chronological order
The new transmitters make it possible to locate the animal's kills with precision using a GPS
receiver. The advantages that have emerged over traditional telemetry so far include:
 Cost savings (5 EUR instead of 100 EUR per localization)
 More accurate data (positioning accuracy of 15m instead of 100m)

4.  Possible to monitor the animal at all times of day and night (every
2-4 hours)
 Animals are not disturbed in the terrain
 Not necessary to enter foreign property
 Possible to process the data immediately using the National Park
administration's geo-information system without any intermediate steps
 We can still "tail the lynx" even if his whereabouts moves
considerably within a short period of time
Project objectives
1. The main objective is to use the latest, animal-friendly communications technology to collect
accurate, real-time data free from interference on the movements of the lynx, as well as on the
predator-prey relationship between the deer and the lynx in an extensive, naturally-developing
mountain forest ecosystem. The results should provide additional sound insights into how the
returned predator influences his most important prey, which in turn should help objectify the
discussion with hunters further.
2. Fitting both deer (10 in each national park) and lynxes (3 in each national park) with
transmitters will also make it possible to analyze how the behaviour of the deer changes according
to the whereabouts of the lynx. In addition, the greater information density achieved with GPS
means that it is possible to calculate the presence of the lynx in certain parts of the prowling area
with varying degrees of probability. In these areas, data on the browsing damage caused by deer
to forest regeneration could be collected and incorporated into the study. With all this information
there's a higher chance to be able to analyze the complex lynx - deer - forest regeneration system
during the next main project.
3. We also expect insights into how adult animals use their prowling area. Fitting neighbouring
lynx males with transmitters will allow the theory of exclusive territoriality, which remains disputed
among experts, to be investigated. Due to the fact that many of the animals' movements cannot
be recorded using conventional methods (see the National Park administration's deer project), we
expect GPS telemetry to help us answers this question.
4. Precise GPS data will allow us to parameterize the results of terrestrial tracking activities in the
National Park over the last ten years with the aim of improving future lynx monitoring.
5. Finally, recording real-time data on the movements of the lynx on an ongoing basis and as
precisely as possible will no doubt improve protective measures against illegal shooting, at least
for those animals fitted with a transmitter.
For more information please contact

5. SMS to Replace Sheep Herding?
An unusual experiment is currently being executed in
Húsavík in the remote Strandir region in the West
Fjords. GPS equipment with a GSM transmitter
has been placed in a collar around the neck of 13
ewes, which sends daily SMS messages with their
locations. The Iceland Review reports.
"The purpose with the experiment is to investigate the interaction between sheep while
grazing in the mountains in summer, mainly to see whether related sheep stick together,
Morgunbladid reports.
The 13 ewes belong to three family groups. Each of their collars transmits one
SMS message per day with their locations every three hours (eight locations in
one message). If the ewe remains motionless for three hours the collar sends a warning
signal in case the animal might be ill or dead."
Grazing cows and sheep are often fitted with bells
around their neck to prevent farmers losing them. Four
young inventors in Norway have now found a way to
modernise and improve the time-honoured search-and-
find aid.

6. The company's system will tell the farmer where the sheep is at any given required
time.Sheep in Norway with GPS 'bell'
Photo: Halvor Mjøen/Findmysheep
No bell
“Our device matches the bell‟s size and shape, but is
soundless,” Findmysheep co-founder Halvor Mjøen tells The Foreigner. “GPS
satellites receive coordinates from the battery-powered transmitter inside the
„bell‟ at pre-programmable times of the day.”
He also explains that farmers can choose the frequency and time-frame
themselves. Sheep-satellite-server signal is then passed to the company‟s
back office system. Customers then login via mobile, computer, and/or tablet
to see where their animals are.
“We decided to use a „bell‟ form, as sheep tend to put their head through the
gaps in fences to eat things on the other side. Anything hanging around the
sheep‟s neck is dangerous and the concave shape helps the animal pull their
head out, preventing snagging,” says Mr Mjøen.

7. Another reason they chose a „bell‟ is “because farmers think of their animals‟
well-being. They have used bells for 200 to 300 years and anything new-
fangled could meet resistance.”
So what gave you the idea to embark on the enterprise?
“My sister took over our parents‟ farm in 2009. We brought our sheep down
from the mountains after the grazing season had finished that year. It was late
November and it was snowing, and some of the animals were not in the herd.
So we went on skis to see if we could find them, but it‟s pretty hard to spot a
white sheep in the snow. We lost 15 to 20 per cent of them.”
The device can also be used for cows
Halvor Mjøen/FindmysheepMr Mjøen adds there was a GSM-based system in place at
the time, but there is no mobile coverage in their area of western Norway.
“That vendor‟s solution is really good, and we would have bought it instead of
developing a new one if it had worked where we needed it to,” he remarks. “Of
course, even GPS-based systems have their weak points. Coverage in hilly or
mountainous terrain in certain herding areas can be non-optimal, and signals
can be weak if sheep go into a cave, say.”
What happens then?

8. “Our system sends a warning to the user if the coordinates transmitted by the
device around the sheep‟s neck remain unchanging over a certain time-
period.”
A lifesaver
According to Mr Mjøen, their invention has proven its worth on two particular
occasions.
“Sheep don‟t like walking backwards. Some sheep in Sogn og Fjordane
County‟s Førde municipality got stuck on a cliff once. The farmer was able to
see this on his device and eventually managed to rescue them by boat.
Another time, a sheep fell on its back and didn‟t move. They thought it was
dead, but went up and rolled it back over,” he says.
How many have you sold since you started?
“2012 was the prototype season with 1,500 units. This increased to 3,500 the
following year. We started sales again on the
01st
A cow having the device put on
Halvor Mjøen/FindmysheepOctober for 2014‟s season, with 3,800 units having been
purchased so far. We can produce up to 10,000 per year.”
“We originally developed the system in the farm‟s barn just for personal use,
never intending it for sale. But it turned into a commercial development after
government funding started.”

9. Moreover, there are plans afoot to expand the current six-person company.
“The system is being tested out on reindeer in Norway, cattle in Brazil, camels
in Africa, and elephants,” Mr Mjøen divulges. “We‟re looking for a bigger barn
now, so to speak.”