The return of lynx to Britain has moved a massive leap closer to reality with the news – just released – that landowners are 100% behind the reintroduction of lynx into northern England, these major landowners approval covers a whopping 700km2 of potential lynx habitat.

The Lynx UK Trust Chief Scientific advisor, Dr Paul O’Donaghue stated ‘Literally every landowner we have approached has given permission’. This is fantastic news for the reintroduction of Eurasian lynx into Britain the project is still being considered by Natural England and Environment Secretary Michael Gove.

The Lynx UK Trust are waiting for a decision for their licence application for a trial reintroduction of Eurasian lynx to Kielder Forest in Northumberland, in what will be the UK’s most ambitious and high profile rewilding project, to return six of the medium-sized cats to Kielder for a five-year trial reintroduction. If the trial was successful, it could lead to a wider reintroduction of the lynx in other parts of the UK such as the Scottish Highlands.

Advocates expect the lynx would bring a range of benefits, helping to control and reduce the UK’s over-populated deer numbers, reducing damage to forests and improving habitat for smaller animals in the process. Expert analysis has also estimated a potential tourism value of tens of millions of pounds for the local rural economy, based on similar reintroduction projects in Europe.

Chief scientific advisor for the Lynx UK Trust, Dr Paul O’Donoghue, commented; “I think this speaks volumes for the confidence in the trial reintroduction plan we’ve laid out, and the potential it has for improving the local ecosystem and expanding the local tourist economy.

“We’ve got an incredible team of ecologists, four wildlife vets and highly experienced reintroduction specialists ready to start work, with a combined 300 years of experience between them. This will be an exceptionally rigorous, scientifically-led reintroduction trial using cutting edge technology to monitor these cats in stunning detail. Everything is in place to deliver a world class project that will breathe life into Britain’s dying forest ecosystems.”

Wildwood Trust, which has extensive experience in the conservation and reintroduction of protected species and managing large carnivores, as well as working closely with Government regulators, such as Natural England and DEFRA, developing conservation licensing systems for a range of threatened species such as water voles, dormice, red squirrels and European beaver, are a recent addition to the Lynx UK Trust reintroduction team.

Wildwood Director Peter Smith comments, “Our ecosystem desperately needs reintroductions like this; apex predators are critical for controlling species like deer which can overpopulate and cause serious damage to natural habitats.

“Lynx aren’t the complete solution, but they’re a keystone element in the construction of one. We’re very happy to be making a big commitment of time, staff and resources to this project, and thoroughly believe the time is perfect for these shy animals to come back to the UK.”

Lynx have been successfully reintroduced in countries across Europe. They have proven themselves to be of no threat to humans anywhere they live, and that they present a very limited threat to sheep farmers, with the average Eurasian lynx killing one sheep every two years.

The project is exceptionally well planned, the Lynx UK Trust have already arranged insurance for every sheep in the UK against lynx attacks, which is backed by Lloyds Syndicate ARK Speciality Programs, a specialist division of Lloyds of London headed up by Richard Bryant, who commented;

“I hope this insurance cover will provide sound financial security for the Trust so they will be able to generously compensate farmers if any of their sheep are injured or killed.

“Having assessed all the science and research on lynx predation we’re very confident that sheep attacks will be rare, so if our support can help make a trial reintroduction practical it’s a great opportunity for us to do something really positive.”

O’Donoghue adds, “Lloyds will insure their sheep, farmers will have an incredible opportunity to diversify their businesses and benefit from the increased tourism into the area, and we’ve laid out a range of investments we want to make into predation mitigation. These would reduce attacks by any predator, including foxes and dogs.

“There is literally no evidence that lynx will have any significant negative effect on sheep farming, quite the opposite. We can’t let completely unsubstantiated rhetoric take priority over scientific evidence, economic evidence and incredible public support, and I’m hugely excited to see that all of the Kielder region’s major landowners have now confirmed their approval for what we hope to do.”

We are waiting on you Michael Gove.