The endangered Balkan lynx has a chance to survive. The new Shar Planina National Park has recently appeared in North Macedonia. It is located in the mountains of the same name. The debate about the need to establish this reserve lasted for 27 years.
The Balkan lynx is a subspecies of the common lynx, the largest predatory cat in the Balkans, and fewer than 50 species remain in the wild. It has been under protection for over half a century, but its numbers continue to decline due to poaching and deforestation. It is considered one of the national symbols of the Republic of Macedonia and is depicted on the Macedonian 5 denar coin, as well as on postage stamps.
The new national park borders the Macedonian nature reserve Mavrovo and the Shar Planina park in Kosovo. The 63,000-hectare park will become a part of an extensive nature reserve and help protect a large ecosystem. Lawmakers in North Macedonia are expected to pass legislation granting national park status to Mount Shar in the near future.
The vast cross-border area could become one of the largest national parks in Europe with an area of over 240 thousand hectares.
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