BRING BACK THE LYNX?
A scientific case for lynx reintroduction.
The Lynx and Us by David Hetherington, photos by Laurent Geslin Scotland: The Big Picture £25
LLithuania has 193 human ssettlements named after wolves aand bears but only three after llynx, even though they have aalways existed there. This aanonymity makes the lynx a candidatec for reintroduction to landscapes now devoid of llarge predators. In particular, David Hetherington would like to bring the lynx back to Scotland, where it has not been seen since the Middle Ages.
The lynx is a solitary, low density species with a large home range. Its favourite food is roe deer, devourer of woodland. Even when reintroduced to areas with naive prey, it settles down to an average harvest of 3–10 per cent, enough to ameliorate the wider environment without hammering the deer population. Its impact on humans and livestock is limited. Read this beautifully illustrated introduction to decide for yourself if they should return.
Stephen Mills Wildlife writer