Chapter 539: Aren't You Going to Acknowledge Your Cub?
There are no public toilets in the wild, so you basically have to find a place to solve it yourself.
But these people who have been conducting field research for years are very careful when choosing a place, and generally speaking, no problems arise.
But this Eurasian lynx's behavior, if it's not revenge, could it actually have an eye on Daniel? Even with the most unique taste, it's unlikely to fancy that.
The three curiously let Daniel take them to see the place from yesterday. Before Chen Ying got close, he already saw faint claw marks on the tree trunk.
"Serves you right for being unlucky. This is the lynx's designated territory marking spot, and you marked it. Hahaha, it's already letting you off easy by not challenging you to a duel."
Mike couldn't help but laugh and punched Daniel on the chest, "You're quite something, competing with a lynx for territory. Is the next step competing with it for a mate?"
Speaking of competing for mates, the test results of the biological samples collected while brushing the lynx's fur a few days ago also came out. Everything else was fine, but the hormone levels seemed to have some issues.
Several experts at the institute are currently interested in studying this Eurasian lynx. Initially, someone wanted Chen Ying to seize the opportunity to capture the lynx, but Chen Ying's mentor blocked it for him.
"Chen, are you really leaving tomorrow?"
"Yes, it was planned from the beginning that I would return. I came here because I suddenly received a notice. Now that my task is completed, a dedicated team will continue with the observations, so I won't be staying here unnecessarily."
Judy wanted to say something, but Mike's gaze stopped her.
"It was a pleasure working with you, and I hope we have the opportunity to collaborate again in the future."
Although Mike's prowess in zoological research circles isn't top tier, no one who has worked with him speaks ill of him. Despite his burly appearance, he is actually meticulous.
Does he not want to study that Eurasian lynx? Impossible, but he knows clearly what things can and cannot be done.
Although the Eurasian lynx isn't as friendly to them as it is to Chen Ying, since the four have been together all this time without ever harming it, the lynx is relatively accepting of their approach compared to others.
To Chen Ying's slight surprise, the person coming to replace him and continue collaborating with Mike on the study of the Eurasian lynx's unique behavior is Kelas.
"You have no idea how terrifying the mentor is!" Kelas looked tearfully at Chen Ying, "I had already arranged with people to go on vacation, but as soon as he made a call, I had to rush back. I just asked if I could be a bit late, and the mentor scolded me for two whole hours!"
Two hours are definitely exaggerated, but it was definitely over an hour; otherwise, given Kelas's usual indifferent attitude to being scolded by the teacher, if it was short he wouldn't even consider it a matter.
The evening before leaving, the Eurasian lynx came to find Chen Ying again.
This time, what it brought was news that couldn't be easily classified as good or bad.
"Are you planning to seek out the new female lynx?"
Chen Ying recalled that the lynx wasn't as good-looking as Matil, but much colder in demeanor. It had successfully bred once at the national park research institute.
The female lynx was very aloof, even to the keeper who had always cared for it, so during its early pregnancy, no one at the institute knew it was pregnant. It wasn't until the lynx started nesting under the fake mountain in its outdoor enclosure that everyone was surprised to find it was going to be a mother.
Half a month later, this female lynx successfully gave birth to two cubs, and no one could get near the birthing den until the cubs were one month old.
Eventually, it was because the mischievous cubs snuck out to play that researchers got the chance to stealthily retrieve them and conduct thorough examinations.
Having experienced the cubs' two-day-and-night disappearance, the female lynx nearly scratched the keeper's face in frustration.
After the cubs were returned, the female lynx immediately relocated with them. She didn't reappear before everyone until the cubs were three months old.
This strong female lynx received unanimous recognition throughout the research institute and is the most critical member of their current release plan.
The female was initially released at a place at the foot of a mountain across Stone Bridge, but upon release, she immediately traversed the mountains to the higher altitude.
Currently, based on the signal returned by the collar she's wearing, she's temporarily staying around the edge of the alpine forest and meadow, at approximately 2000 meters above sea level.
This area is also the intersection of the territories of the Eurasian lynx and Lightning.
As for the other Iberian male lynx, due to being harassed to the brink of collapse by the Eurasian lynx, it is now considering migrating south.
Chen Ying didn't mention this to Mike and the others; anyway, they will be staying here for a while, and soon enough they will discover it themselves.
Chen Ying set off alone from the camp toward the mountainside; there's a patrolling path there, already arranged with staff from the lower part of the mountain to meet him.
Not far from leaving the camp, Chen Ying was blocked by Lightning and Matil.
The two lynxes didn't seem particularly close, and Lightning's words later confirmed Chen Ying's deduction.
Lightning temporarily had no intention of finding a mate, and Matil lost interest in Lightning after skipping past previous filters. Knowing that the northern large lynx was interested in another of its kind, she also became curious about that other lynx.
"I heard them say our homeland is still far away. I plan to walk all the way in the direction of our homeland from here. If I meet a suitable mate on the journey, I'll have a litter; after the cubs grow up, I'll continue."