Support for reintroduction of lynx

Jan 5 2009 by Jon Tunney, The Journal

A BIG cat could be reintroduced to Northern countryside after becoming extinct in medieval times.

Oxford conservationist Professor David Macdonald believes the Eurasian Lynx could be successfully brought back to Britain – and the forests of the North would make a perfect home for around 450 of the carnivores.

Professor Macdonald makes the suggestion in his report the State of Britain’s Mammals – co-written by his Wildlife Conservation Research Unit colleague, Dr Dawn Burnham.

Until recently, the big cat was thought to have disappeared around 4,000 years ago, but new research shows it could have survived until 400AD, before dying out as a result of human persecution.

The report states: “The recently identified human involvement in its demise strengthens the case for reintroducing lynx in Britain.

“Lynx would most likely hunt deer. A few sheep would get killed, but Alps experience is that it is manageable. As far as I’m aware, there is no recorded case of lynx being any danger to people.”

A spokeswoman for North East National Farmers Union said: “Farmers would clearly be very concerned at the prospect of any threat to the welfare of their livestock and livelihoods.”

The professor’s report was commissioned by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species.