Cameras capture rare glimpse of endangered lynx in Lagodekhi [VIDEO]

Wildlife experts are celebrating after cameras caught rare footage of an endangered lynx in Georgia’s Lagodekhi region.

One of the video cameras set up in the Lagodekhi Protected Area filmed a male lynx walk along a small stream and sniff the rocks before padding off in the opposite direction.

Officials welcomed the footage as the lynx was classified as an endangered species and said it was the first time a lynx had been captured on film since the camera traps were installed four years ago.

The sleek animal sported a red-spotted coat and appeared to be male.

Georgia’s Administration of Protected Areas released the 12-minute video on their webpage. Director of the Lagodekhi Protected Area, Giorgi Sulamanidze, noted these stealthy cats did their best to avoid humans and were rarely seen as they hunted at night.

Lynx are covered in thick fur that keeps them warn during cold winters. Their large paws are also furry and hit the ground with a spreading toe motion that makes them function as natural snowshoes.

"A month ago our ranger saw a female lynx with two babes. [Seeing that a male lynx is here] means that a natural balance is protected, they have started breeding and the lynx population will increase,” Sulamanidze said.

In the Caucasus region the lynx was listed in Georgia’s Red Book as an endangered species.

Meanwhile, the lynx was not the only animal to feature in the 12-seconds film. Three minutes before the lynx appeared, two ibex were caught on camera.

East Caucasian ibex appeared in front of camera traps before the lynx.

Ibex are an alpine species of wild goat that have extremely large curling horns.

In the video the first ibex ran through the shot while the second appeared about five seconds later. They did not hang around and left the area soon after.

Numerous photo traps were installed in Georgia’s protected areas to capture footage and prove that a variety of animals, some rare, lived in Georgia’s uninhabited areas. Since the cameras were installed, numerous creatures have been filmed including deer, roe deer, ibex, boar, wild cats, wolves, jackals, lynx, fox, mouse, birds and more.

Photo traps were also good tool to reduce poaching and recognise offenders. Sulamanidze said if the devices noticed illegal hunting, it recorded the image and sent it to the Administration of Protected Areas. This helped the Lagodekhi Protected Area to prevent poaching in the area.

Lagodekhi Protected Area is located in the extreme north-eastern part of the southern slopes of the Caucasus. Its land varied in altitude from 590m to 3500m. Lagodekhi is regarded as a treasure for nature lovers as it boasted large forests, glacial lakes, waterfalls, deep valleys and access to a wide variety of Kakheti’s wildlife.