Tropical storm Leslie caused considerable damage to a pair of provincial parks on Tuesday, leading to the escape of a pair of lynx at Salmonier Nature Park.
The Department of Environment and Conservation has closed the park until further noticed. A spokeswoman for the department told The Telegram that the lynx's enclosure was damaged during the storm.
One of the lynx was captured alive Tuesday evening, but the second lynx was still missing as of midday Wednesday. The spokeswoman said workers expect to retrieve the animal later today.
The service road at the park is currently impassable, and several other animals enclosure fences were damaged during the storm, according to the spokeswoman. She said all other animals are safe and accounted for.
Uprooted trees reportedly damaged much of the park’s boardwalk, while shingles on the administration building were also damaged.
Meanwhile, hundreds of trees are on the ground at Butterpot provincial park, with hundreds more leaning towards campsites and roads. The department spokeswoman said shingles were sent flying from the roof of the generator shed and at the warm-up building. The well house’s roof also sustained damage, as did several trailers.
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John, It is my understanding that the lynx (I think there are only two) currently at the park have been born there. Their tame behaviour and fearlessness towards visitors seems to confirm this. It might very well be that they could not survive in the wild, as they are not used to preying as well as natural predators. R.