Latest news with #lynx
The Independent
11 hours ago
- General
- The Independent
Lynx rescued from Highlands given names at their new home
A trio of lynx who were illegally released into the Scottish Highlands earlier this year have been named, following a competition involving school children and charity donors. Caledonia, Cardrona and Bluebell have settled in at the Highland Wildlife Park, a few miles from where they were first discovered in the Cairngorms National Park. The wild cats were rescued in freezing overnight temperatures by experts from the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) in January. A fourth juvenile lynx was found abandoned but died after being rescued. The unplanned release of the animals was condemned by welfare groups and prompted a police investigation, though so far no arrests have been made. Schools in Scotland were invited to take part in the competition, submitting projects on the value of nature, with the winners being Kinlochleven Primary School's P3-4 class – who chose the name Bluebell. Caledonia was named by the winner of a prize draw which raised more than £7,600 for RZSS, while Cardrona was named by the Weir Charitable Trust, who made a generous donation. Judith Bowman, carnivore team leader at Highland Wildlife Park, said: 'It has been wonderful to care for the three girls here at the park over the past month. We are already seeing their playful and curious personalities flourish. 'Thank you to Kinlochleven Primary P3-4, who chose Bluebell's name, and submitted an amazing competition entry on their commitment to protecting nature. 'Caledonia was named by our prize draw winner and Cardrona by the Weir Charitable Trust. Without support from kind people like this our wildlife conservation charity wouldn't be able to continue its vital work.'
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Lynx rescued from Highlands given names at their new home
A trio of lynx who were illegally released into the Scottish Highlands earlier this year have been named, following a competition involving school children and charity donors. Caledonia, Cardrona and Bluebell have settled in at the Highland Wildlife Park, a few miles from where they were first discovered in the Cairngorms National Park. The wild cats were rescued in freezing overnight temperatures by experts from the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) in January. A fourth juvenile lynx was found abandoned but died after being rescued. The unplanned release of the animals was condemned by welfare groups and prompted a police investigation, though so far no arrests have been made. Schools in Scotland were invited to take part in the competition, submitting projects on the value of nature, with the winners being Kinlochleven Primary School's P3-4 class – who chose the name Bluebell. Caledonia was named by the winner of a prize draw which raised more than £7,600 for RZSS, while Cardrona was named by the Weir Charitable Trust, who made a generous donation. Judith Bowman, carnivore team leader at Highland Wildlife Park, said: 'It has been wonderful to care for the three girls here at the park over the past month. We are already seeing their playful and curious personalities flourish. 'Thank you to Kinlochleven Primary P3-4, who chose Bluebell's name, and submitted an amazing competition entry on their commitment to protecting nature. 'Caledonia was named by our prize draw winner and Cardrona by the Weir Charitable Trust. Without support from kind people like this our wildlife conservation charity wouldn't be able to continue its vital work.'
BBC News
14 hours ago
- BBC News
Female lynx that were let loose in Cairngorms given names
Three lynx that survived being dumped in the Highlands earlier this year have been given names at their new home at the Highland Wildlife wild cats - named Caledonia, Cardrona and Bluebell - were spotted in the Cairngorms National Park in early January, sparking a search before they were captured south of a period in quarantine at Edinburgh Zoo, the three females were moved to the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland's (RZSS) wildlife park at Kincraig in cats have been named following a competition involving Scottish schools. A fourth lynx, a male, was illegally released before being captured in January, but it died a short time later. Judith Bowman, carnivore team leader at the Highland Wildlife Park, said: "It has been wonderful to care for the three girls here at the park over the past month. "We are already seeing their playful and curious personalities flourish." Police were first alerted to reports of lynx on the loose in the Drumguish area of the UK's biggest national park on 8 Royal Zoological Society of Scotland used cage-type traps baited with venison and quail to capture the cats. They were caught within two Scotland has been investigating the January release.
The Independent
2 days ago
- 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.
Telegraph
2 days ago
- 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.
