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Lynx program to continue despite early problems DURANGO, Colo. (AP) - Colorado officials want to release 50 additional lynx into the wilderness as part of a controversial reintroduction program that recorded a 20 percent mortality rate in its first year. "I think the progress has been even better than we had hoped," said Richard Reading, director of conservation biology at the Denver Zoological Foundations. "We recognize that for this reintroduction effort to be successful, it will require more than one year," he said. "We need to build on the first year's achievements." Reading heads an advisory team that will recommend next week to the Colorado Wildlife Commission to extend the lynx program for another year. The state Division of Wildlife has released 41 lynx since the program was launched early this year. Five cats starved to death; two were killed in highway accidents, and one was shot and killed. Two others died of causes that could not be determined. Animal rights activists have maintained a 20 percent mortality rate was unacceptable, but wildlife officials have said they planned to continue the program if the mortality rate was no higher than 50 percent. Organizations representing ranchers, sheepherders, farmers and recreationists have sued to halt the program. They allege government agencies should have done an environmental assessment or impact statement on federal lands before the animals were released. After a federal judge rejected the request, the organizations filed an appeal. The decision to go forward with the project was made by the division's Lynx Recovery Team during a two-day meeting in Denver. The team is made up of scientists from the western United States and Canada. Division researchers will continue to monitor the lynx throughout the fall and winter. The release of additional cats would most likely take place early next spring in the area where lynx were released this year. "The lynx reintroduction project is proceeding according to plan," said Steve Buskirk, a zoology professor at the University of Wyoming and a member of the advisory team. Copyright 1999 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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