Lynx Data FAIR principles

Data on the presence of Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in Central and Southern Italy are unclear. We provide a comprehensive analysis of data on the presence of lynx in this area for two periods (1500-1988 and 1989-2008), combining surveys conducted by the authors and other research groups. A total of 705 signs of lynx presence has been recorded. For the period 1989-2008, the 568 signs of presence were catalogued using the SCALP system. Data were evaluated in two survey areas: an extensive survey area (AES) and an intensive survey area (AIS). A large proportion of the observations reported lynx signs across the Central Apennines in the periods from 1989 to 1993 and from 1994 to 1998. The area represented by the Abruzzo region had the largest number of observations (445; 78.35%). Only 10 observations (1.76% of the total number of signs) could be classified as certain. It is not possible to affirm the presence of the lynx, but rather, to indicate a date by which the last Apennine lynx disappeared.