Rare Eurasian Lynx Captured On Camera In Sikkim For First Time
The rare wild cat was captured by a camera trap at an altitude of 5,250 metres on the Tso Lhamo plateau in Mangan district.
Gangtok : The elusive Eurasian lynx, a medium-sized wild cat, has been photographed for the first time in Sikkim, the state's forest and environment department said on Wednesday, terming it a landmark in wildlife conservation. The rare wild cat was captured by a camera trap in January 2026 at an altitude of 5,250 metres on the Tso Lhamo plateau in Mangan district. This was only the second confirmed photographic record of the species in the entire Eastern Himalayas.
The first-ever photographic record of the Eurasian lynx in the region was from neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh in 2025.
According to an official statement, the photo was captured during a long-term snow leopard and rangeland monitoring programme jointly conducted by the state's forest and environment department and WWF-India.
The initiative tracks snow leopard populations and associated high-altitude wildlife while assessing the ecological health of trans-Himalayan rangelands.
Chief Wildlife Warden D Manjunatha described the discovery as a major milestone for wildlife conservation in the state.
"The photographic confirmation of the Eurasian lynx in the Tso Lhamo plateau is a proud moment for Sikkim. It highlights the ecological significance of our high-altitude rangelands and reinforces our commitment to protecting these fragile ecosystems," he said.
The Eurasian lynx is a medium-sized wild cat, recognised by its distinctive ear tufts and short tail, which is well adapted to harsh, high-altitude environments.
