Help WWF bring the lynx back to Bulgaria

Nowadays, we have access to more information than ever before in human history. However, this flood of data is often mixed with unreliable claims, fake news, conspiracy theories.

The topic of large predators is no exception. These charismatic species – the brown bear, the grey wolf and, of course, the Eurasian lynx - have always captured the imagination. Facts, however, are often mixed with myths and outdated beliefs, giving rise to misconceptions. In the age of social media, these misconceptions spread particularly quickly. And that has a direct link to conflicts between wildlife and humans.

To make the right decisions for everyone - both people and animals - we must first learn to always rely on facts and truth, not on false and distorted claims.

That is why WWF Bulgaria conducted an information campaign dedicated to debunking the most widespread myths about large carnivores (including the lynx). Here are some of the misconceptions we talked about:

MYTH 1: When large carnivores appear in a certain area, they kill all the game in it.

Ecosystems have their own regulatory mechanisms that prevent predators from completely depleting their food resources.

Predators and their prey have undergone a long evolutionary journey together, constantly competing with each other. This is reflected in the appearance, biology, and behavior of the species. Animals that are prey to predators do not stand idly by and wait to become victims. They are often faster and more resilient, living in groups to detect danger earlier and spread the risk among themselves, and in many cases are "equipped" with sharp horns, hooves, or other features that help them defend themselves.This is well illustrated by the fact that the success rate of hunting is relatively low for both wolves and lynxes - around 10-20%. In other words, they successfully catch their prey only 1-2 times out of 10 attempts.  

MYTH 2: There are not enough large wild areas for large carnivores in modern day Europe.

It is a fact that bears, wolves, and lynxes are territorial animals and need large spaces. In the past, these species were pushed into more inaccessible mountainous and forested areas where population density was relatively low, and infrastructure development lagged (e.g., the Carpathians).

Although some species, such as the lynx, are more sensitive to human presence, in recent decades we have seen that more of the former ranges of large predators are being repopulated by them.

It seems that large predators are highly adaptable, and their presence is mainly influenced by the availability of food and shelter, the tolerance of the local population towards them, and effective legal protection.

MYTH 3: Large carnivores do not benefit nature; they only cause problems.

Large carnivores have several beneficial effects on their habitats, on the populations of other species, and on entire regions. They contribute to the formation and maintenance of more diverse and sustainable ecosystems. They improve the health of wild populations by removing weaker individuals and limiting the spread of disease. They can also prevent or limit the spread of invasive species.

But their positive impact has other dimensions as well. Their way of life and behavior define them as "umbrella" species—their protection supports broader conservation goals, even benefiting less "popular" species and habitats.

MYTH 4: Large carnivores are often aggressive toward humans.

Aggression by large predators towards humans is extremely rare. Bear attacks have been documented in a few isolated cases and under specific circumstances in Northern Europe and the Balkans (usually as a defense mechanism – protection of cubs or territorial competition). In the 21st century, there has not been a single recorded attack by a wolf on a human in Europe.

Large predators generally avoid contact with humans. The lynx, for example, is a very secretive animal, active mainly at night – it is very rare for a person to even catch a glimpse of it, let alone have a close encounter with it.

Lynxes, bears and wolves have always been symbols and ambassadors of European and Bulgarian nature. It is our duty to protect them and their habitat by finding ways to coexist in harmony.

Our heartfelt thank-you to everyone who supports our mission to create a safe natural environment for the lynx and other wildlife!

Links:

• More myths about large carnivores like the lynx

How could the lynx ever return to Bulgarian nature if its home is destroyed?

This past summer, Bulgaria was engulfed by horrifying wildfires. It was among the 10 EU countries most affected by forest fires as a percentage of the country's territory, according to data from the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS).

Since the beginning of the year, we have lost more than 30,000 hectares of forest to fires. Many of them - in NATURA 2000 territories.

Forest fires have caused serious damage economically and ecologically, directly and indirectly. The indirect damage is related to the loss of ecosystem services, biodiversity, and landscape. The most tragic thing of all – we witnessed the loss of so many wild (and farm) animals in the flames.

Forest fires are one of the greatest threats to Bulgarian nature, according to data from a recently published analysis by WWF Bulgaria. Statistics show that over the last three decades, the number of fires and the area burned, both in Bulgaria and in Europe, have increased significantly.

What did WWF Bulgaria do to help?

Forest fires cause terrible damage to wildlife, and thousands of wild animals fall victim to them. Only we humans can prevent fires and extinguish them in time.

Apart from publishing a new detailed analysis on the issue, in the summer of 2025, WWF Bulgaria launched a special campaign to raise awareness and funds to support the National Association of Volunteers in the Republic of Bulgaria and the Green Balkans Wildlife Rescue Center.

Part of the proceeds were used to purchase equipment and supplies for volunteers who risk their lives and health to help extinguish forest fires. The other part was used to support the work of the Green Balkans Wildlife Rescue Center in the Bulgarian city of Stara Zagora, which cares for wild animals injured in forest fires.

In addition, WWF Bulgaria created a petition urging the Bulgarian authorities to purchase specialized aircraft for aerial firefighting (the country doesn’t currently have such). So far, the petition has gathered over 13,000 signatures.

What does all of this have to do with the lynx?

The preferred home of the lynx are old natural forests. Bulgaria is one of the few European countries that still has those. But what happens if we lose them? And we lost a lot in the devastating fires last summer. The recovery will take years, maybe decades.

This is precisely where WWF Bulgaria comes in. We have extensive field experience, having spent years studying and protecting old-growth forests and their inhabitants. We have the expertise to assess the damage caused by forest fires and to participate in the restoration of burned forest areas.

We will do everything we can to protect and restore the home of the lynx (and many more).

A most heartfelt thank you to all who support or will support our efforts – we appreciate each and every one of you!

Links:

• WWF Bulgaria's analysis on forest fires
• More data on the scale of forest fires in Bulgaria