Lynx could return to Scottish countryside after they were wiped out in the UK 1,300 years ago under plans to release them back into the wild near Loch Lomond
- Lynx could be reintroduced in a forest in Scotland following an ecological study
- The Lynx UK Trust said it has chosen Queen Elizabeth Forest Park near Aberfoyle
- Discussions with the Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) are currently ongoing
The lynx could soon reintroduced in a forest in Scotland following an ecological feasibility study.
The Lynx UK Trust announced it could soon be reintroducing the big cats at a site in Queen Elizabeth Forest Park near Aberfoyle, Loch Lomond, more than 1,300 years after the animals were wiped out.
While discussions with the Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) are ongoing, the site could host as many as 250 lynx in total.
Dr Paul O’Donoghue, the Director of Lynx UK Trust said: ‘The Queen Elizabeth Forest park is a lynx paradise, it ticks all the boxes; high deer densities, extensive forest cover, extremely low human population density and no major roads.’
The Lynx UK Trust has announced it could soon be reintroducing the lynx at a site in Loch Lomond, Scotland
He added: ‘It is vital to point out that we hope to develop widespread community support for our plans.
‘This will not be imposed on anyone, rather we see this as an opportunity to build strong networks with partners and stakeholders to deliver what is undoubtedly, the most exciting and large scale conservation project ever proposed in Scotland.’
Over the years the absence of the wild cats has led to an overpopulation of deers which in turn has damaged the UK’s native forest ecosystem and also caused problems on the food chain.
However the reintroduction of the Eurasian lynx is hoped to help drive forest regeneration and restore a broken forest ecosystem.
Mr O’Donoghue added: ‘Currently there is virtually no natural forest regeneration anywhere in Scotland due to excessively high deer densities.
The organisation has selected the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park near Aberfoyle, as the site that the big cats will be released into
While the absence of the wild cats has led to an overpopulation of deers, their introduction is hoped to restore the forest’s ecosystem
‘Lynx will invigorate our forest ecosystems, increasing forest cover and creating more robust ecosystems that will provide crucial ecosystem services such as flood mitigation and increased carbon storage, which has the potential to benefit millions of people’
In 2018, efforts to release six Eurasian wildcats into Kielder Forest in Northumberland were rejected by the government.
Some landowners had agreed to the scheme, but a number of farmers expressed concerns that the animals could attack livestock, like sheep and chickens.
Meanwhile the Environment Secretary at the time Michael Gove said government advisors had ‘particular concerns in a number of areas’ relating to the proposal.
In his letter, Mr Gove said: ‘Kielder Forest is an area where the Forest Commission has been taking action to manage and restore important habitats and ecosystem functions to enhance biodiversity.
‘This has included the release of hundreds of water vole and the removal of mink from the Tyne and monitoring the return and spread of pine martens to understand options for their recovery.
‘The area has also seen significant recolonisation by a number of bird species as a result of continued efforts, all of which is positive news.’
The Lynx Trust UK has now met with senior officials at the Scottish Natural Heritage and are in talks about using the site to reintroduce the big cats.
If they are given permission then three Eurasian Lynx will be reintroduced to the Scottish forest over a five-year period.