Page 62 - BBC Wildlife Volume 36 #02

AGENDA ANALYSIS

The extent to which
lynx will attack and
kill sheep is disputed
by experts.

Reducing roe deer
numbers and
helping woodland
regeneration would
be one benefit of
bringing back lynx.

PREDATORS ` LYNX WERE
ON THE RETURNED
PROWL TO THE HARZ
MOUNTAINS IN
When carnivores such as
lynx and wolves escape GERMANY AND
from zoos, there’s rarely LEARNED TO
a happy outcome.
KILL VERY FAST.” cropping the sward, leaving i th d l i Whatever happens with
ith
Wh
h
t
BORTH ZOO little variation in plant life. the Lynx UK Trust’s Kielder
Lillith the lynx was on the run But the Scottish Wildlife application – and the word is
for 12 days after getting out. There’s also no question, he Trust, which supports bringing that environment secretary
Attempts to recapture her adds, a zoo animal could have lynx back to Scotland, does not Michael Gove supports the
failed, and she was shot for been responsible. They were use this to justify its stance. idea of doing a trial lynx
public safety reasons. used in a reintroduction in the Instead, it argues there is reintroduction somewhere –
Harz Mountains in Germany, both a “moral and ecological even some conservationists
DARTMOOR ZOO and “learned to kill very fast”. imperative for reintroducing believe releases of these large
A male lynx spent three [lost] species” because they carnivores should not be a
weeks in the wild and killed TOURISM CONCERN can be a cost-effective way of priority in Britain right now.
four sheep in 2016, but was According to NSA press officer managing ecosystems and “I don’t think, despite the
recaptured after being lured Hannah Park, reintroducing increasing their robustness. Not hype, we are ready for lynx,”
into a trap with a piece of veal. lynx to Kielder would have a all predators would be suitable says Derek Gow, who has been
detrimental impact because – there is appropriate habitat at the forefront of bringing
COLCHESTER ZOO of the fear of losing livestock for lynx, the Trust argues, but beavers back to Britain. “There
Five timber wolves escaped to them. Farmers would move not for wolves or bears. Lynx is no evidence that the Lynx
from Colchester Zoo in away from sheep, leading to would have a beneficial impact Trust has built any bridges with
November 2013, and three of a loss, or degradation, of the by reducing roe deer numbers, anyone else, and a complete
them were shot later that day. environment that attracts thereby helping tree and climate of opposition to the
organisation’s approach to this
scrub regeneration.
viltkamera.nina.no the other was darted. is sceptical of the line that lynx conservation, Susan Davies, application – though not its
tourists to the area. The NSA
One returned to its enclosure,
The Trust’s director of
principal aims – currently exists.
can aid tourism because they
There is support in the north
says she hopes to see a licence
are so elusive.
COTSWOLD
wolf: Klein & Hubert/NPL(captive); deer: Getty; sheep: morning in July 2017. for an animal they cannot a coalition of organisations unanimous lack of support from
application put forward within
from tourist-based businesses
“There’s only so many times
WILDLIFE PARK
WILDLIFE PARK
for the Kielder proposal, but a
the next 10 years, probably from
people will go to an area to look
A female wolf got out one
that includes landowners
even the reasonable elements of
see,” she says.
ff
Park staff said she
and communities, as well as
the farming community.”
Many conservationists
was out of range to
Besides, Gow adds, there’s a
environmental groups.
will cheer the prospect of
tranquilise, so she
far more interesting
landscapes with fewer
was shot later
reintroduction idea he’d like to
FAKE NEWS
FAKE NEWS
sheep. Of all livestock,
that day.
they arguably have
“I don’t think [the escape and
get involved with – bringing
the most detrimental
effect on biodiversity,
that’s another story...
has set reintroduction back,” she
says. “It shows just how much
partly because of the subsequent shooting of Lillith] wildcats back to England. But
density with which they are work needs to be done in terms + FIND OUT MORE
farmed and partly because of of increasing understanding
the way they feed, closely and building consensus. A lot of Lynx UK Trust’s trial
reintroduction plans: www.
misinformation [came out] about lynxuk.org/publications
what lynx can and will do.”
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