Page 16 - World of Animals - Issue #33

The missing lynx

Reintroducing the lynx

The potential benefits of returning an apex predator to the British

countryside would have far-reaching environmental and economic

benefits. The cats proposed for reintroduction by the Lynx UK Trust
would potentially come from eastern Europe and would be heavily

monitored during a five-year trial.
Expert opinion

Dr Paul O’Donoghue, Chief Scientific Advisor at the Lynx
UK Trust tells us why we should reintroduce the lynx.
The lynx is crucial to restoring the health of forest
ecosystems. Forest regeneration has effectively stopped

due to overgrazing by deer, whose populations are growing out of
control. Lynx will help to bring some much needed balance. [They]
are also massive ecotourism draws and have the ability to drive
economic regeneration in rural areas. Lynx have the power to inspire
and engage people about conservation and the countryside and they
will make Britain feel like a wild place again.

Environmental benefits

Woodland regeneration Natural control Increase in natural wildlife
The introduction of lynx of foxes Game birds such as the
would keep the number of Research in Europe has grouse are likely to benefit

deer down, which in turn shown that the lynx control fox from the reduction in fox
would mean new tree shoots populations as red foxes are numbers. In Finland this also
would have a chance to grow, on the menu. They make up led to an increase in the brown
regenerating forests. six per cent of their prey. hare population.

Key facts

Prey
Habitat Temperament Prey
The lynx needs large forested Very secretive Medium-sized ungulates like the roe deer are the main prey
Medium-sized ungulates like the roe deer are the main prey
areas to ambush deer. and elusive. of the Eurasian lynx, making up 69 per cent of their diet.
of the Eurasian lynx, making up 69 per cent of their diet.
Decline of deer
Understanding the knock-on impact of deer populations in the UK if the lynx was reintroduced
£4 . 5
£4.5
7 4 , 000 million
74,000
m
o
il
n
l
i
Road accidents
Savings to forestry Fewer road accidents Road accidents Fewer damaged Increase in
Increase in
Fewer damaged
woodland birds
management The cost to vehicles is estimated Figures show that crops woodland birds
crops
Figures show that
The cost to vehicles is estimated
This is the estimated
74,000 road accidents
Less time and money to be around £17m via direct 74,000 road accidents This is the estimated Woodland birds decline
Woodland birds decline
spent managing collisions and swerving to avoid a year in Britain cost of damage that’s by up to 50 per cent in
by up to 50 per cent in
a year in Britain
collisions and swerving to avoid
cost of damage that’s
woodland where deer
are caused by deer
caused by deer to
deer. The lynx’s primary prey, roe
deer damage means deer. The lynx’s primary prey, roe are caused by deer caused by deer to woodland where deer
are present as they
collisions or near-
deer, account for 32 per cent of
forestry operations can deer, account for 32 per cent of collisions or near- crops and commercial are present as they
crops and commercial
woodland.
focus on other areas. accidents. misses. woodland. eliminate shrub layers.
misses.
eliminate shrub layers.
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