November 28, 1912

On November 28, 1912 the country of Albania declared its independence from the Ottoman Empire.

We trust the country will not become independent of the Balkan Lynx, but that is a possibility. This feline subspecies Lynx lynx ssp. balcanicus, is estimated to have a population, between Albania and Macedonia, of 20 to 40. (That was in 2015). This sub species is designated as "critically endangered," which is as endangered as it gets: the next status is gone.

A more recent report on the status of this Albanian lynx, the females of which may weight 40 pounds, contains this picture:





'Camera traps have revealed the presence of the Balkan Lynx which experts have dubbed the ‘jewel of Albanian forests’ in the northern Albanian Alps and several other endangered species...
'Monitoring through camera traps at the Nikaj-Merturi regional nature park in northeastern Albania bordering Kosovo has captured pictures of the Balkan Lynx, a critically endangered species which has also been previously traced in the Munella Mountain in the district of Puka and Mirdita, northern Albania.
' Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania, PPNEA, has earlier warned illegal logging in the Munella Mountain, northeastern Albania, the country’s sole sanctuary of the Balkan lynx, is further putting at risk one of the most threatened wildlife species in serious danger of extinction.
'The Balkan lynx is a critically endangered species, with only about 40 or 50 individuals reported to exist in total. About 5 or 6 of these have been reported to live in the Munella Mountain in the district of Puka and Mirdita....
'“This is the second evidence that we have for this species in Albanian Alps, after the photography received three years ago by a local guide in Thethi. In addition, the cameras also photographed other important species for the area, such as, chamois, wolf, wild cat, badger, and fox,” the Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania watchdog said in a statement....'

It would be too sad if the only trace of the Balkan lynx we soon have is the word "lynx."

That etymology is worth recalling:

'lynx (n.) moderate-sized wildcat with a short tail, penciled ears, more or less spotted fur, and 28 teeth, inhabiting Eurasia, Africa, and North America; mid-14c., from Latin lynx (source of Spanish, Portuguese, Italian lince), from Greek lyngx, an old name of the lynx found also in Armenian, Germanic, and Balto-Slavic, though often transformed or altered. Often linked to PIE root *leuk-"light, brightness," in reference to its gleaming eyes or its ability to see in the dark, but there are phonetic problems with that and Beekes suggests a loan from a non-IE substrate language.

'If that men hadden eyghen of a beeste that highte lynx, so that the lokynge of folk myghte percen thurw the thynges that withstonden it. [Chaucer's "Boethius," c. 1380]

'Cognates probably are Lithuanian lūšis "lynx," Old High German luhs, German luchs, Old English lox, Dutch los, Swedish lo, Armenian lusanunk'. ..'

We have however, only to look at a picture of the lynx in Albania, to favor the explanatory connection between leuk- (light, brightness) and lynx.