The Östergötland County Administrative Board has approved a licensed hunting plan that permits the culling of eight lynxes starting March 1, despite critiques from the Nature Conservation Association. Kjell Bäcklund, the chairman of the association in Kinda and Ydre, argues that hunting during the lynx’s mating season puts the young cubs at risk, as a mother lynx with dependent young is likely to struggle for their survival if she is killed. The population survey indicates there are about 50 lynxes in the region, with a wider context of approximately 1,400 in Sweden, where the species is considered vulnerable despite a slight increase in its numbers.