This book invites you to discover Europe's largest feline in all its facets: its place in the great cat family, its anatomy, its prowess as a forest hunter and its diet, its ecology and its fascinating behaviour. You will learn how it selects its prey, how it interacts with other predators, how its populations evolve and colonise new territories.

A comprehensive overview of European populations is presented, highlighting the current distribution of the species, its local dynamics, and the threats it faces, including the crucial issues related to habitat fragmentation.

The book also explores our unique relationship with the lynx, from ancient times to the present day: an animal that has been mythologised, feared and then protected. Past and present conservation programmes are analysed to understand their successes and failures, and to outline prospects for the future.