Big Cats in the UK: Reintroducing the Lynx
The UK has not been home to large predatory species for many hundreds of years. Once a place of wolves, bears and big cats, dominant wild predators were driven to extinction by man.
Ceaseless hunting -- both for their meat and furs and to eliminate them as competitors or threats to lives or livestock -- saw big game eradicated from the UK’s wilderness.
But that could soon change. Soon, there could be wild big cats in the UK again.
Wildlife reintroduction strategies are nothing new, we’ve seen the likes of beavers, eagles and wolves return to the UK already. Other upcoming projects, like the reintroduction of bison to Kent, are proving very exciting. Not only do these projects make wildlife watching in the UK much more thrilling, but they provide important benefits to the ecosystem.
Now, we face the prospect of reintroducing the lynx as well.
What is a Lynx?
The lynx is one of the smaller big cats. There are four species of lynx -- the bobcat, the Candian lynx, the Iberian lynx and the Eurasian lynx. Lynxes are instantly recognisable thanks to their pointed ears and cheek fur. The big cat that conservationists are looking to reintroduce into the UK is the Eurasian lynx.
The largest of all lynx species, the Eurasian lynx is similar in size to a leopard, weighing in at around 30kg. Their range of prey is considerable, making them adaptable animals. Lynx will hunt anything from small mammals like hares to wild boar and reindeer.
Solitary animals, lynx hunt at night and are generally nocturnal, sleeping during the day hidden amongst the wilderness. They’ll hunt within a huge territorial range that can span hundreds of miles, but are rarely seen. Eurasian lynx are timid and will avoid contact with humans.
Is Reintroduction of the Lynx Dangerous?
The Eurasian lynx may be extinct within the UK, but the species still has a thriving population across continental Europe. While threatened by habitat loss and poaching, the population is still considered very stable, at around 10,000 animals, with the Eurasian lynx listed as ‘least concerned’ in terms of conservation status.
The result of all this is thousands of animals across multiple countries, spread throughout many areas of human activity. Yet there are no recorded fatalities from Eurasian lynx attacks anywhere in the world.
Eurasian lynx do not hunt humans. Their small stature and timid nature means they’re not interested in humans as prey. With a healthy supply of food in their natural environment, lynx will not pose a threat to people even if they were to come into very close contact.
Why Reintroduce Lynx to the UK?
The UK has been starved of wildlife diversity for centuries. The Eurasian lynx was hunted to extinction over 1300 years ago. Biodiversity in the UK has plummeted since then and reintroduction plans aim to create environments that existed before human population explosions. Without predatory species, animals like deer not only thrive but overtake the landscape and become problematic. Ecosystems are all about healthy balance with a predator like a lynx at the top of the food chain. With no food chain to speak of, ecosystems get out of hand. Reintroducing the Eurasian lynx has the potential to develop new and more balanced ecosystems; ecosystems we haven’t seen in the UK for many generations. Reintroduction of lynx also helps the species survive in our ever-changing world. While the lynx is not endangered, the animal still faces threats and establishing new populations is only a good thing for them.
Following the successful reintroduction of Eurasian lynx to other countries, including Germany and Switzerland, conservationists are confident the same success could be seen in the UK.
How Will Introduction of the Lynx to the UK Work?
As with all reintroduction strategies, there is a phase of planning, followed by a phase of finding the perfect location, with projects ending when the animals are released into the wild. The first thing to note is that ‘wild’ means controlled areas of wilderness, like big game reserves when you take safaris in Africa. The lynx in this case would be given free rein in the area, but would also be monitored closely and prevented from leaving. They wouldn’t be allowed to spread into nearby spaces or breed uncontrollably. This isn’t a zoo, but it’s not a case of throwing some lynx into the woods and seeing what happens either.
Reintroduction of lynx in the UK has already got past the planning stage. The Lynx Trust UK have created their roadmap for the successful reintroduction of the big cats, now all they need is a location. They’ve located six lynx in Scandinavia that would be perfect candidates for a UK big cat reintroduction scheme, and plan to relocate them to the UK to begin a breeding population. Previous attempts to reintroduce the lynx to Northumberland have been denied, with the Lynx Trust UK now working to gain approval to reintroduce lynx to Scotland. The site is reported to have the ability to support a population of up to 250 lynx.
Why Not Reintroduce Big Cats Into the UK?
Plans have already been scuppered to reintroduce Lynx to the UK.
A campaign to release lynx into Northumberland was denied in 2018. The biggest concerns amongst opponents of the idea are that the project will require more resources than conservationists claim, and that there is a risk to livestock. Success stories out of Europe show it is possible to produce healthy populations of Eurasian lynx in new habitats, but teething problems also demonstrated how a lack of control could leave farmers struggling. In Norway, lynx account for 21% of all lost sheep, hunted and eaten. Farmers are concerned that reintroduction of big cats into the UK would see their livelihoods damaged by the predators.
Reintroducing Big Cats to the UK: Current Status
Currently, there are no confirmed plans to reintroduce lynx to the UK but progress is ongoing. The Lynx Trust UK is confident in its ability to create a thriving and healthy population in Scotland, capable of not only cohabiting with farmers but also improving the ecosystem. Others aren’t so sure but that doesn’t mean there is no life in the project.
To keep an eye on the latest updates for bringing big cats to the UK, plus other plans for the introduction of wildlife, we recommend you follow Rewilding Britain.
