Latest news with #LynxUKTrust
The Independent
05-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Releasing lynx into the wild would be disastrous for Britain's farmers
You'd be forgiven for thinking it was an imaginative, if not bloodthirsty, way to get rid of farmers protesting against the new inheritance tax rules. In June, the Lynx UK Trust , an organisation that campaigns to reintroduce wild Lynx to areas of rural Britain formally applied to reintroduce the cats to the Kielder forest in Northumberland. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) promptly refused, on the grounds that Lynx are classified as dangerous wild animals. But then the head of the government's wildlife regulator stepped in. Tony Juniper, chair of Natural England said he personally was 'enthusiastic' about reintroducing wild lynx to Britain – and would be 'absolutely delighted' if it could be achieved during his two-year term. In rural East Yorkshire, where I work, this was met with a degree of eye-rolling. People in agriculture have been aware of the proposals for a while, but until now, no one took them seriously. That has shifted a notch to: 'they couldn't… could they?' I do not work in agriculture, but my dad's family were tenant farmers, smallholders and contractors. My brother works on an arable farm on the Yorkshire Wolds, and I meet a lot of people in the industry. Politically, I always find myself caught in the middle ground. I think farmers moan too much and are too resistant to change, and I think too much farm and conservation policy is made by experts who give a good impression of not really knowing what they're doing. In this case, you have to say the reintroduction of the lynx to the wild in Britain would cause many problems for farmers – although it's not all about farms and the cats themselves. The most obvious issue – so obvious that it is acknowledged by lynx advocates – is the risk to livestock. There is no question that on large, upland farms, lambs would be killed. The Lynx to Scotland campaign group proposes financial compensation schemes to cover this, but you wonder about the limitations – surely once the predators know where the easy meals are, they will be back – repeatedly? And how do you prove a missing lamb was taken? This would not affect only sheep. In Europe, the lynx's preferred prey is deer, and there are about 30,000 farmed deer on 400 farms in the UK. You'd worry for outdoor-reared pigs as well. I know a man from a farm in Poland, where wolf numbers have grown in recent years, who tells stories about his family at home bringing in stock from the fields at night to protect them, so it's feasible that on some deer, pig and sheep farms we would see some form of evening round-up, or shelters being built. There is then the question of game on country estates. Few people, or indeed animals, will shed tears over barons and bankers being deprived of the chance to bag pheasant, but the awkward fact is that hunting tends to go hand in hand with a strong degree of nature conservation. Of course, landowners aren't going to give that up because a lynx snarfs a snipe here and there, but what they will do is get their gamekeepers to shoot them. The less obvious risk concerns not commercially bred animals, but domestic pets. A lynx's hunting range can be up to about 170 square miles, and they can travel up to around 12 miles a night. That would surely allow for them to enter rural housing developments, estates and villages in search of food, in the way foxes and deer do fairly routinely now. Given cats' noisy predilection for fighting, it seems a very real possibility that, in winter, they would end up attacking domestic pets. At this point, especially if it happens in a quiet news period, it would all become a very different kind of problem. Where that could affect farmers is in local pressure to fence-in land abutting housing. Given the increasing public complaints about the noise, smell and mud that are inextricably linked with agriculture, it would hardly be a surprise, should the circumstances arise. Admittedly, this is highly speculative and slightly paranoid, but it is worth pointing out that some rewilding schemes do have unintended consequences. Nature is full of unforeseen knock-on effects: this year, my neighbour got a rather murderous house cat, and the hay and barley fields next door are visibly less eaten-off by rabbits, because the cat has either eaten them or scared them off. Similarly, it appears to me and several local birdwatchers I know that the reintroduction of birds of prey, combined with the policy of cutting hedges less frequently, has visibly reduced the number of small birds. This is because, unable to get deep into the hedge any more, they nest on the outer edges where the nests make easy targets for sparrowhawks. It's for reasons like this that I find the idea of rewilding dubious in its insistence that nature somehow finds its own healthy balance; such balance as it finds is a lot healthier for the predator than for the prey. I can see that it can work in vast spaces – to be fair the reintroduction of lynx in areas of Germany, France, Italy and Switzerland seems to have worked without too much carnage. However, in most of the UK, the space is far from vast, and benefits from some sort of management. Finally, if the UK government's wildlife body does approve the reintroduction of the lynx, it may have another, more vague effect on farmers because of its symbolism. There has been no coherent agricultural policy from the current or the previous government, and there is a sense in the industry that these days MPs would rather just get the food from overseas, and pack in with food production altogether to save the greenhouse gas emissions. That may or may not be true – but releasing a livestock predator back into the wild would be interpreted by many as a certain signal of intent.
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The Independent
02-07-2025
- General
- The Independent
Poll of the day: Should lynx be reintroduced to the British countryside?
Plans to reintroduce the Eurasian lynx to the British countryside are once again gaining momentum, as the government's wildlife chief says he would be 'absolutely delighted' to see the species return during his term. Tony Juniper, chair of Natural England, has voiced support for renewed conversations around lynx reintroduction, calling for more public engagement to understand the potential impact on communities, landowners, and wildlife. The comments follow a proposal by the Lynx UK Trust to bring the animals back to Kielder Forest in Northumberland, using individuals rescued from culls in Sweden. Lynx, which have been extinct in Britain for over 1,000 years, are elusive forest-dwellers that prey on deer and rabbits. Conservationists argue they could play a vital role in controlling deer populations, helping restore damaged woodlands and boosting biodiversity. But opposition remains strong in some quarters, particularly among farming groups, with concerns over livestock safety, legal barriers, and public accountability. Readers are already divided on the issue. Templer commented: 'I would imagine sheep farmers in the area are thrilled at the prospect. I also wonder why lynx were hunted to extinction. Maybe there was a reason for that!' Uriba, however, countered: 'In areas where lynx have been reintroduced, like parts of Switzerland, Germany, and Slovenia, predation on livestock is extremely rare. In fact, lynx are more useful than harmful to farmers, as they help control deer populations that damage crops and young trees.' As debate grows over whether Britain should welcome back once-extinct species – and who should decide – we want to know what you think. Should the UK reintroduce animals like the lynx as part of a wider nature recovery strategy? Or are the risks and uncertainties still too great?
The Independent
01-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
The big cat that could make a comeback in Britain
Wildlife experts propose reintroducing lynx to the UK as a solution for managing the overpopulated deer population, which impacts forest regeneration. Tony Juniper, chair of Natural England, expressed enthusiasm for the return of lynx to Britain, acknowledging the polarised debate surrounding the issue. Lynx UK Trust submitted a draft application for a trial reintroduction of lynx, rescued from Sweden, into Kielder Forest, Northumberland. Natural England officials have indicated that the trial cannot proceed due to current Defra rules under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act, which lists lynx. Lynx UK Trust's chief executive, Paul O'Donoghue, plans to launch a court challenge if the government fails to review their application for a trial release licence.
Daily Mail
01-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Will Lynx be freely roaming Britain in two years' time? Natural England chief says they should be
The chair of Natural England has renewed calls for Lynx to be reintroduced to Britain. Tony Juniper, the chair of Natural England, said he would be 'absolutely delighted' if the re-introduction of the cats could be achieved during his two-year term. However he admitted debates about the release of the animals remain 'polarised' and said more engagement with the public was needed. The Lynx UK Trust has submitted a draft application for a trial return of lynx to Kielder forest in Northumberland, England's largest forest, using wild animals which have been rescued from Sweden, The Guardian reported. The Labrador-sized cats, live in forests and mainly prey on rabbits and dear and do not pose a threat to humans. The Eurasian lynx was once native to Scotland but was driven to extinction some 500-1000 years ago through hunting and habitat loss. It has since been reintroduced back in several parts of Europe, including in areas used for farming, hunting, forestry and tourism. The predator could help control booming numbers of roe deer, supporters of the plan have argued. Officials at Natural England have told the Lynx UK Trust that a trial has been halted because the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) rules it illegal under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act. The charity's chief executive Paul O'Donoghue has called for environment secretary Steve Reed to make the necessary legal tweak to solve the problem, however has not been able to arrange a meeting with Mr Reed. Mr Juniper said he hoped a cross-border conversation with officials in Scotland could help boost the chances for a return of the Lynx to the UK. He said: 'Lynx do need big areas of habitat and there could be some opportunities to combine nature recovery over parts of northern England with what's going on in southern Scotland' 'It is still quite polarised and some of these things will remain divided no matter how much effort you put in, but we need more engagement to understand how communities that would be living with these animals would be able to continue with what they do. There are in some places still serious doubts about that.' Paul O'Donoghue hit back saying calls for more engagement were a 'waste of time'. He said: 'Unless he has been living under a rock for the past 30 years, Tony Juniper must know that sheep farmers will never change their position on lynx reintroduction, making more calls for more engagement utterly sad and stark truth is that currently the government are actively blocking any legal attempt at lynx reintroduction.' Two other charities are also working to try and get the cats reintroduced into Britain. The Missing Lynx Project is also working towards a reintroduction project in Keilder, while the Lynx to Scotland charity recently published a 100-page report on a potential return to the Cairngorms. The report sought to address concerns from sheep farmers, recomending payments for losses and a rapid-response system for farmers whose flocks were being targeted. Four Lynx were illegally released into the Cairngorms in January. Three were recaptured and re-homed while another died in the wild. Many believe the animals were released from a private collection and were too tame to survive in the wild. Mr O'Donoghue preferred the introduction into Kielder, arguing it offers a spacious area that most benefits the animals, in a forest with few sheep farmers. He argued the move would also generate millions of pounds to the local economy, bringing sustainably jobs to the area. He claimed a reintroduction in Harz in Germany was so successful that a second one is being planned. Asked about a potential legal challenge over the latest lynx reintroduction application, a Defra spokesperson said: 'This government is absolutely committed to restoring and protecting nature and we support species. We will continue to work with Natural England on species re-introductions in England.' The government is understood to want more evidence before any reintroduction is considered.
Telegraph
30-06-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Release lynx into wild, says Natural England chief
The boss of Natural England has said he would be 'delighted' if lynx were released into the wild. Tony Juniper, who heads up the body responsible for conservation, said he would be 'absolutely delighted' if the animals could be rewilded in England before the end of his two year term. He has previously said that the wildcats could help control deer populations but warned it was important to consider the science and current ecosystems. Farmers and landowners fear the wildcats will attack livestock, game and walkers, but some campaigners claim they can help keep deer and rabbit numbers under control. His intervention comes as The Lynx UK Trust has drawn up an initial application asking for the animals to be returned to Kielder Forest in Northumberland. Mr Juniper, who was reappointed as chair of Natural England for the third time in March, told The Guardian rewilding the animals 'should be looked at and I know people are looking at it. 'It is still quite polarised and some of these things will remain divided no matter how much effort you put in, but we need more engagement to understand how communities that would be living with these animals would be able to continue with what they do. 'There are in some places still serious doubts about that.' Several groups are campaigning to bring back the animals to help keep deer and rabbit numbers under control, but farmers and landowners are worried that the wildcats will attack livestock, game and walkers. 'Significant challenges' Lynx are currently listed on the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, which means they cannot be released unless in a secure enclosure. The government said it was aware of projects to assess the feasibility of lynx reintroduction in England but warned that the predators present 'significant challenges' and that there was currently not enough evidence to support a release. The application to rewild the lynx in Kielder is currently not being considered by Natural England, the government said. A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs said: 'This government is absolutely committed to restoring and protecting nature and we support species reintroductions where there are clear benefits for nature, people and the environment. 'We will continue to work with Natural England on species reintroductions in England.' Mr Juniper said Natural England was working with communities who would be affected by the introduction. Campaigners are also hoping to rewild lynx in the Cairngorms in Scotland and have been consulting with farmers about the plan. In January, four lynx were illegally released into the Cairngorms, which led to the death of one of the animals during the operation to recapture the creatures. It is not clear where the lynx came from, although some have suggested that rewilding groups may have attempted to introduce the animals by stealth. Damage they cause At the time, the National Farmers Union Scotland (NFUS) said those who released the animals had given no thought to the welfare of the lynx or the wider rural community. The lynx was once native to the British Isles but the last British lynx was hunted to extinction for its fur around 700AD. The European lynx also disappeared from the UK around 1,000 years ago and by the 1950s there were only 700 left in Europe. Calls for the introduction of lynx follow successful breeding programmes in countries such as Germany, France and Switzerland which have seen numbers rise to around 18,000. However, in Sweden, the government recently introduced a cull of lynx to limit the damage they cause. The Lynx UK Trust is hoping that rescued animals from the cull could be rewilded in England.
