The travelling photographic exhibition dedicated to the Balkan lynx, organised by the Macedonian Ecological Society (MES), will be open to visitors during EHO, from 26 to 30 October.

Created to bring the Balkan lynx closer to curious members of the public and raise awareness of the importance of protecting this fragile population, the exhibition presents some of the most striking captured images, most of them taken with camera traps, a method MES has been using in the field for 18 years. At the same time, the approximately twenty selected photographs also document two decades of fieldwork to conserve this subspecies through the regional Balkan Lynx Recovery Programme.

Over the years, this programme has enabled MES to estimate the Balkan lynx population in Macedonia, expand knowledge of its natural range, movements and diet through GPS tracking, and build trust and partnerships with authorities, hunters, foresters and game wardens, whose role is equally important in protecting the lynx. The programme has also helped include the Balkan lynx in international agreements, strengthening commitments to cross-border conservation, and contributed to the designation of new protected areas across the region, including Šar Mountain, which is essential to the lynx’s survival in Macedonia.

As part of the regional programme, the exhibition has already travelled to numerous towns and regions across Macedonia, including the national parks of Mavrovo, Jasen, Pelister, Galičica and Šar Mountain. Alongside offering visitors the opportunity to admire this magnificent animal and learn more about its habits and habitats, the exhibition opens up a space for discussion about the status of the Balkan lynx and planned conservation measures. Although the lynx is a national symbol, it remains critically endangered in the region, with fewer than 50 mature individuals left in the wild.

The exhibition is suitable for all ages.