CzechLynx: A Dataset for Individual Identification and Pose Estimation of the Eurasian Lynx

We introduce CzechLynx, the first large-scale, open-access dataset for individual identification, pose estimation, and instance segmentation of the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx). CzechLynx contains 39,760 camera trap images annotated with segmentation masks, identity labels, and 20-point skeletons and covers 319 unique individuals across 15 years of systematic monitoring in two geographically distinct regions: southwest Bohemia and the Western Carpathians. In addition to the real camera trap data, we provide a large complementary set of photorealistic synthetic images and a Unity-based generation pipeline with diffusion-based text-to-texture modeling, capable of producing arbitrarily large amounts of synthetic data spanning diverse environments, poses, and coat-pattern variations. To enable systematic testing across realistic ecological scenarios, we define three complementary evaluation protocols: (i) geo-aware, (ii) time-aware open-set, and (iii) time-aware closed-set, covering cross-regional and long-term monitoring settings. With the provided resources, CzechLynx offers a unique, flexible benchmark for robust evaluation of computer vision and machine learning models across realistic ecological scenarios.

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Publication Details

Journal
Scientific Data
Published
2026-02-24
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-026-06853-9
Primary Topic
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

CzechLynx: A Dataset for Individual Identification and Pose Estimation of the Eurasian Lynx

Miroslav Jiřík, Ľuboslav Hrdý, Elisa Belotti, Josefa Krausova et al.
Scientific Data
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
article

CzechLynx: A Dataset for Individual Identification and Pose Estimation of the Eurasian Lynx

Miroslav Jiřík, Ľuboslav Hrdý, Elisa Belotti, Josefa Krausova, Luděk Bufka, Martin Duľa, Jakub Straka, Rostislav Dvořák, Jiří Labuda, Martin Váňa, Vlado Trulík, Lukas Picek, Luděk Toman, Václav Kocourek, Vojtech Cermak, Michal Bojda, Miroslav Kutal
article en

Abstract

We introduce CzechLynx, the first large-scale, open-access dataset for individual identification, pose estimation, and instance segmentation of the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx). CzechLynx contains 39,760 camera trap images annotated with segmentation masks, identity labels, and 20-point skeletons and covers 319 unique individuals across 15 years of systematic monitoring in two geographically distinct regions: southwest Bohemia and the Western Carpathians. In addition to the real camera trap data, we provide a large complementary set of photorealistic synthetic images and a Unity-based generation pipeline with diffusion-based text-to-texture modeling, capable of producing arbitrarily large amounts of synthetic data spanning diverse environments, poses, and coat-pattern variations. To enable systematic testing across realistic ecological scenarios, we define three complementary evaluation protocols: (i) geo-aware, (ii) time-aware open-set, and (iii) time-aware closed-set, covering cross-regional and long-term monitoring settings. With the provided resources, CzechLynx offers a unique, flexible benchmark for robust evaluation of computer vision and machine learning models across realistic ecological scenarios.

Scientific Data
Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CZ), Friends United (US), Laboratoire d'Informatique, de Robotique et de Microélectronique de Montpellier (FR), Šumava National Park (CZ), Czech Technical University in Prague (CZ), Mendel University in Brno (CZ), University of West Bohemia in Pilsen (CZ)
Openalex Percentile: Top 52%
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
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