Lynx reintroduction in the United Kingdom

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Eurasian lynx

The Eurasian lynx is the target of ongoing species reintroduction proposals in the United Kingdom . Proposed locations include the Scottish Highlands and Kielder Forest in Northumberland, England .

## Contents

* 1 Background
* 2 Proposals
* 2.1 England
* 2.2 Scotland
* 3 Support
* 4 See also
* 5 References
* 6 External links

## Background

Lynx were extirpated on the island of Great Britain by the Middle Ages, and since the extinction of the grey wolf the island contains no natural apex predators.

Since then, deer populations have increased dramatically due to having no natural predators;[1] with excessive deer foraging leading to prevention of forest regeneration, the stripping of tree vegetation, and removing of the shrub layer in forests which provides a habitat for birds such as nightingales and willow warblers. Reintroducing large predators such as the lynx are seen by rewilding experts to restore balance in the ecosystem and keep deer numbers under control.

## Proposals

### England

Lynx Trust UK are a registered charity campaigning for the reintroduction of lynx to the Kielder Forest in Northumberland.[2] In 2018, a proposal to release six animals was turned down by then-Environment Secretary Michael Gove,[3] due to findings that the proposal did not "meet the necessary standards set out in the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) guidelines and fails to give confidence that the project could be completed in practical terms or that the outputs would meet the stated aims". In 2020 the Trust began preparing a second proposal to be submitted, with three animals proposed.

The Wild East Project has proposed lynx reintroduction to areas of East Anglia.[4]

### Scotland

Lynx reintroduction into the Scottish Highlands has been proposed since 2008,[5][6] and a study by Lynx Trust UK and the University of Lancaster found that the Scottish countryside would be able to support a population of up to 250 animals.[7] In 2020, Lynx Trust UK began a consultation into releasing lynx into the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park north of Glasgow.[8]

## Support

The proposals have met opposition from sheep farmers,[9] citing threats the lynx would pose to their flocks; despite research indicating that because lynx also predate on foxes, the number of lambs killed would reduce.[10]

Tony Juniper, chairman of Natural England, voiced his support for the "inspiring" proposal in 2020, stating that it could help to cut deer numbers.[11] Scottish rewilding charity Trees for Life supports lynx reintroduction, claiming it would "restore ecological processes that have been missing for centuries, and provide a free and efficient deer management service".[1]

## See also

* List of extinct animals of the British Isles

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "This big cat was native to Scotland 500 years ago. Could rewilding bring it back?". 3 February 2021. https://www.euronews.com/living/2021/02/03/this-big-cat-native-to-scotland-could-rewilding-reintroducing-predators-uk. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
2. ↑ "Why second bid to bring lynx to Kielder Forest could succeed, according to campaigners". 4 November 2020. https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/lynx-kielder-second-application-chances-19369931. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
3. ↑ "Plans to reintroduce lynx to Northumberland rejected". December 2018. https://www.northumberlandgazette.co.uk/news/plans-reintroduce-lynx-northumberland-rejected-195957. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
4. ↑ "Should wild predators like the lynx be released in our countryside?". 7 August 2020. https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/business/wildeast-movement-reignites-eurasian-lynx-debate-1567882. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
5. ↑ Hetherington, D.; Gorman, M. (2007). "Using prey densities to estimate the potential size of reintroduced populations of Eurasian lynx". Biological Conservation 137 (1): 37–44. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2007.01.009. http://www.velkeselmy.cz/knihovna/b/rok2007/Hetherington_and_Gorman_2007_Using_prey_densities_to_estimate_the_potential_size_of_reintroduced_populations_of_Eurasian_lynx.pdf.
6. ↑ Hetherington, D. A.; Miller, D. R.; Macleod, C. D.; Gorman, M. L. (2008). "A potential habitat network for the Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx in Scotland". Mammal Review 38 (4): 285–303. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2907.2008.00117.x. https://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Hetherington-et-al-2008-Lynx-habitat-availability.pdf.
7. ↑ "2020 - Press Release - Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, Scotland (pdf)". https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/e35a2bfd-c372-47ec-9274-e7c49cf350e5/downloads/Press Release - Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, S.pdf?ver=1612538692633. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
8. ↑ "Park selected as lynx reintroduction site". 16 August 2020. https://www.scotsman.com/news/environment/park-selected-lynx-reintroduction-site-2943811. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
9. ↑ "Sheep farmers criticise proposals to release lynx in Scotland". 21 August 2020. https://www.fwi.co.uk/livestock/sheep/sheep-farmers-criticise-proposals-to-release-lynx-in-scotland. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
10. ↑ "Missing lynx: how rewilding Britain could restore its natural balance". 2020. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jul/12/missing-lynx-how-rewilding-britain-could-restore-its-natural-balance. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
11. ↑ "Setting lynx wild in Britain could cut deer numbers, head of Natural England says". 24 February 2020. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/02/24/setting-lynx-wild-britain-could-cut-deer-numbers-head-natural/. Retrieved 7 February 2021.

## External links

* Eurasian Lynx - Lynx Trust UK

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