Page 61 - BBC Wildlife Volume 36 #02

AGENDA ANALYSIS

LYNX: GLOBAL RANGE AND NUMBERS

Confirmed
lynx range
Possible
lynx range
` THERE Finland
CANNOT
BE A CLEARER In general, the lower the 2340-2610
population density in a
16
WARNING OF country, the healthier the Germany
lynx population. Finland
THE DAMAGE has the equal lowest 23 232
LYNX COULD number of people per km 2 Romania 1200-1500
DO IF RELEASED of any EU country and 84
the highest number of
INTO THE WILD.” lynx. Germany has a high France 108
population density and
116
only a small, reintroduced
Sweden
lynx population. There Human
Natural England to reintroduce 1400-1900 population
are exceptions – Norway per km 2
six lynx into Kielder Forest in 22
doesn’t have many lynx Norway
Northumberland. The Trust’s
despite being sparsely 384-408
Paul O’Donoghue believes the
populated. The UK has the 16 Total lynx
outcry over Lillith’s death has population
highest population density UK
boosted its case for bringing
of any EU country and – as
the species back to Britain. 271
yet – no wild lynx.
“People are aware that 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000
lynx are not big cats and
are disgusted the council
took the decision to kill this lynx, that’s 2.4 sheep a year,” prolonged period. A separate adds. “What is important is that
animal,” he says. “It has been O’Donoghue says. “No one can study, carried out in the south seven sheep were found dead,
inexperienced, poorly advised argue that’s a significant threat, of Norway, found (during the and somebody believes they
and out-of-step [with public particularly compared with summer) sheep represented 64 were killed by a lynx. If lynx are
opinion] in dealing with background mortality rates.” per cent of ungulates killed by reintroduced to the UK, this
this issue.” 24 lynx monitored over a five- type of event will be repeated
O’Donoghue maintains SERIAL KILLERS year period. (Ungulates – sheep, again and again within a radius
there was no evidence the But John Linnell, a lynx expert goats, moose, red deer, roe deer of hundreds of kilometres of
sheep were the victims of a who works for the Norwegian and reindeer – represented the release site.”
Institute for Nature Research,
lynx attack, suggesting that for
80 per cent of their kills, with
These incidents will need to
Lilith: Borth Wild Animal Kingdom/PA; kielder: Getty biologically unprecedented”. dispatch large numbers without the other 20 per cent.) Males can differentiate lynx kills from
says lynx are capable of
be responded to rapidly, and
beavers, hares, squirrels, foxes
a single animal “to have killed
“multiple killings” and could
will require trained staff who
and grouse and other birds
seven sheep in one night is
other predator kills and then
eating them. His study of
and females with kittens were
Indeed, the Lynx UK Trust
communicate their findings
radio-collared lynx in northern
has consistently maintained
more likely to target sheep. One
to sheep farmers, the media
Norway revealed one case of
individual was responsible for
that lynx are not a threat to
eight sheep being killed by one
and the public. “Who will do
54 kills in a 100-day perod.
livestock, saying evidence from
animal in a single incident.
this?” he asks. “Who has the
mainland Europe suggests a
“Whether this lynx really
Lynx can also be major
single animal takes, on average,
and networks?”
0.4 sheep a year. “For our six
is not the main issue,” Linnell
61
February 2018 predators of sheep over a killed those sheep [in Wales] necessary funding, trust, skills
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