<
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/aug/07/lynx-could-thrive-in-northumberland-with-most-in-area-supporting-return-study-finds>
"Releasing just 20 lynx in Northumberland would be enough to create a healthy
wild population, research has found, and most people in the area would support
the practice.
Northumberland Wildlife Trust has been working to see if the wild cats, which
became extinct in Britain about 1,300 years ago as a result of hunting and
habitat loss, could be returned to the area.
In a paper published in the
Journal of Environmental Management, modelling
studies found that lynx would be able to thrive in the area.
The study found a release of 20 lynx over several years into the Kielder Forest
area would over time create a healthy population of about 50 animals covering
north-west Northumberland, the edge of Cumbria and the bordering areas of
southern Scotland. The researchers said it was the only area of England and
Wales with enough woodland for lynx to thrive.
Conservationists supporting the reintroduction of the lynx to the UK say it
could bring many benefits such as hunting deer that overpopulate woodlands and
eat bark off trees, which destroys them.
The shy animals are slightly smaller than a labrador and prefer large areas of
dense woodland in which to roam. The areas in which they could be released
successfully in the UK are limited, as most forests are no longer big enough.
The animal has been reintroduced in several European countries, including
Germany, Switzerland and France.
Due to its wealth of woodland, the Wildlife Trusts pinpointed Northumberland as
an ideal place to explore the feasibility of returning the wild cat. A
year-long consultation found that 72% of people within the project area
supported the reintroduction of the animal."
Via
Positive.News
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
