Currently, many wild animals live in “Nature’s Pearl” in Karklė, including seven lynxes and three bears. It is precisely because of them that a sensational situation has arisen. Although the Bosas claim to understand the work of the Environmental Protection Department and the legal requirements, they are most surprised by the institutions’ attitude towards the situation.
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“I understand that they are doing their job and I have no complaints about the rules, but I do have complaints about the attitude. Back in 2009, we were issued a permit to keep animals. Then we invested, built enclosures, and those lynxes and bears had offspring with us,” A. Bosas told Žmonės.lt.
According to him, during an inspection carried out in February 2025, it was confirmed that the conditions for keeping lynxes and bears met all requirements. However, the situation soon changed.
“In May 2025, the rules changed again, and it became clear that the enclosures needed to be expanded. We agree that they should be expanded, but there is no possibility because there are other buildings, and we also border the Forest Enterprise territory. Therefore, everything would need to be moved elsewhere,” the businessman explained.
According to him, the problem is not only the size of the enclosures. To move the animals and set up new suitable areas for them, the entire infrastructure of the territory would have to be fundamentally reorganized.
“Our bears and lynxes are already old and will live at most another three to five years. For such a time, hundreds of thousands would have to be invested. After all, it’s not just the enclosure – it’s the whole new infrastructure: educational trails, climbing structures, ponds, houses, everything that is in ‘Nature’s Pearl.’ And it’s not a fact that everything could be done because it would have to be coordinated with the regional park, as these would be buildings,” said A. Bosas.
The family claims to have tried several times to find another solution – to transfer the animals to other institutions. According to A. Bosas, they contacted zoos in Latvia, Estonia, and many other European countries, but no one wanted to accept either the bears or the lynxes.
“We said we agreed to give the animals away, wrote to everyone – zoos in Latvia, Estonia, almost all of Europe. But no one wants bears or lynxes. The Romanians responded that they would accept some lynxes, but according to Lithuanian law, the appropriate documents must be obtained. We filled everything out and waited, but during that time the deadline expired,” he told Žmonės.lt.
According to A. Bosas, an 18-month deadline was set for the transfer of the animals. After it expired, the family received a response from the Environmental Protection Department that the deadline would not be extended. If there is nowhere to transfer the animals and no possibility to expand the enclosures, the only option left is to euthanize or kill them according to the procedure set out in the Animal Welfare Protection Act.
This news shocked the Bosas family.
“I am in shock. The animals have lived here for more than ten years, and during that time there were no incidents. So you want to say that euthanasia or killing is better welfare? We are definitely not asking to change the rules for us or to make an absolute exception. We only want a conditional exception – to allow the animals to live out their natural lives until their own death,” said A. Bosas.
He emphasized that the animals are not bred, as the law stipulates. Therefore, in his opinion, it is only necessary to give time for the already old animals to live out the rest of their lives.
“I understand, you can euthanize an injured or sick animal to ease its suffering. But healthy, well-cared-for animals that are active and whose coats shine? For me, it’s an absolute shock,” said the businessman.
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A. Bosas also pointed out that lynxes are included in the Red Book in Lithuania.
“They are protected everywhere, and suddenly I am told to kill them?” he asked.
According to the businessman, the conditions for keeping animals on his territory have been improved several times. The bears’ houses were reportedly enlarged three times, but now the requirements have changed again.
“There are no such conditions in Lithuania as I have. Until now, we have taken all requirements into account – we enlarged the bears’ houses three times, and now they say those houses are not needed at all. It’s generally ridiculous that animal welfare is measured in meters. Will they live better in a four-meter enclosure than in a three-meter one?” pondered A. Bosas.
The family currently hopes that the situation can still be resolved. According to A. Bosas, they have also contacted the Minister of Environment, but so far have not received a response.
“We send letters to the minister, she just started work and is already on vacation… One letter was sent three weeks ago, and there is no response. Okay, I understand that the department must enforce the letter of the law, but politicians can make a decision,” he said.
Daina Bosas evaluates the situation even more strictly. The woman insists that the family itself does not intend to kill the animals.
“They won’t make us executioners; let them come and kill them themselves. We will film it and make a video – let it circulate on the internet. But the Red Book animals will not be killed by our hands because in a month they will change the law again and accuse us of killing,” D. Bosas complained.
A. Bosas also does not hide that these animals have become close to the family over many years.
“Those bear cubs and lynx kittens were born here, my hand will never rise to kill them,” he told Žmonės.lt.
According to D. Bosas, before making a final decision, the situation should also be assessed by veterinary specialists.
“They should come and assess whether they are really doomed to die… Does anyone care about these animals at all? It seems not, the main thing is just to enforce the letter of the law. No animal – no problem,” she said.
Due to the situation, the portal Žmonės.lt contacted the Environmental Protection Department under the Ministry of Environment. Upon receiving a response, the text will be updated.
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