WATCH: First potential release site for reintroduction of lynx to Scotland is announced

The first site for the controversial possible reintroduction of lynx in Scotland has been selected – and it is not in the Cairngorms.

The Queen Elizabeth Forest Park – less than 30 miles from Glasgow – has been chosen by the trust behind the project after an ecological feasibility study and initial community consultation work.

The Lynx UK Trust announced in February, last year, the Cairngorms had been shortlisted as one of three potential areas for the potential reintroduction.

But confusion reigned at that time over just where the trial was planned.

Public consultations and a roadshow naming the "Glenfeshie region" as one of three possible Scottish locations in their sights had been announced by the backers.

But Glenfeshie Estate – the main landowner – said they were unaware of the proposals and wanted no part in them.

And then the planned local consultation at Kincraig Community Hall was cancelled.

The Lynx UK Trust has now announced the start of a new public consultation programme to enable ambitious plans to reintroduce lynx to Scotland.

It said discussion with Scottish Natural Heritage has taken place and they are to stay fully informed.

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.

"We have identified a 350 square kilometre project area site after discussion with SNH."

He continued: "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."

If permission is given, three Eurasian lynx – one male and two females – will be reintroduced in the Queen Elizabeth Forest park for a five year period.

They will wear state of the art satellite collars to monitor their movements. The cats will come from healthy wild populations in Europe and be subject to full veterinary screening.

The lynx will be intently studied over a five year period amassing information that will inform plans for a wider reintroduction at multiple sites across Scotland.

Dr O’Donoghue said: "This scheme is about a lot more than just returning lynx to the forests. Lynx will be drivers of forest regeneration and can be used as ambassadors for restoring our broken forest ecosystems.

"Currently there is virtually no natural forest regeneration anywhere in Scotland due to excessively high deer densities.

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’.

"Through the looming climate change disaster and the current pandemic, humans as a species are now realising that our future and health is inextricably linked to that of the natural world and without functioning ecosystems the prospects are dire.

"The time to act is now and lynx can help."

Lynx were wiped out in the UK by fur-hunting combined with loss of habitat about 1,300 years ago.

Eurasian lynx are something of a success story in European conservation, once decimated across the continent to just 700 individuals there are now over 10,000 of them and successful reintroductions have been staged in countries including Germany, France and Switzerland.

The trust said lynx are a perfect reintroduction candidate.

A spokesperson said: "No attacks on humans have ever been recorded by a healthy, wild Eurasian lynx anywhere in the world. They are not significant livestock predators with the average kill rate across Europe being 0.4 sheep, per lynx, per year.

"However they are major drivers of rural economies and it is predicted that these incredibly charismatic cats can attract tens of millions of pounds for the proposed region."

Over the past year, The Lynx UK Trust has been carrying out an extensive ecological feasibility study in collaboration with the University of Lancaster, to assess habitat suitability for lynx across the whole of Scotland.

The conclusions are that vast tracts of the Scottish countryside are suitable for lynx and could support well over 250 individuals.

More information can be found on the website at www.lynxuk.org

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