PLANS to re-introduce the lynx to Scotland have taken a major step forward after a site for the project was chosen.
One male and two females will be released into the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, just 30 miles north of Glasgow and on the east side of Loch Lomond. Hunted to extinction for their fur in the UK some 1300 years ago, the Eurasian Lynx has been successfully reintroduced in various European countries.
Now the Lynx UK Trust hopes for similar success, starting at Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, where the individuals released into the wild will be monitored over five years.
Once decimated across Europe to just 700 individuals there are now over 10,000 of them. Germany, France and Switzerland in particular have all seen successful reintroduction.
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 Trust stated: “The conclusions are that vast tracts of the Scottish countryside are suitable for lynx and could support well over 250 individuals. In addition, last year a series of preliminary consultation events were held in Scotland at various potential release sites. The data from all this ecological and sociological work highlights the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park as an excellent site for the first reintroduction.”
The Lynx UK Trust has already met with senior officials at Scottish Natural Heritage to discuss its plans for returning lynx to Scotland. Local economies would benefit from the lynx becoming a tourist attraction. They also help to control native deer populations and no lynx attack on humans has even been recorded.
The Trust said: “It is now clear what needs to be done. To commence the public consultation, the Lynx UK Trust is pleased to announce the first public consultation event to be held between 2-4pm on September 9 at The Forth Inn, Main St, Aberfoyle, Stirling, FK8 3UQ. More information can be found on the website at www.lynxuk.org.”
Dr Paul O’Donoghue, 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 Scottish Natural Heritage.
“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.”
A spokeswoman for SNH said: “We are aware of plans by Lynx UK Trust to submit a licence application for the reintroduction of lynx.
“We met with the organisation on March 9th for an informal pre-application discussion at the request of the applicant.
“During the meeting we clarified what information would be expected to support an application to reintroduce lynx to Scotland, in line with the Scottish Code for Conservation Translocations.
“We are aware that there are strong views about these proposals and, in the event that an application is submitted, would expect extensive consultation to take place to ensure plans take the views of the public, livestock and land managers into account along with any socio-economic and cross border impacts.”
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