Plans to reintroduce lynx to Britain on five-year trial basis

The predator has not been seen in the UK for decades

An application has been made to reintroduce the lynx to the British countryside for the first time in more than 1,000 years, on a trial basis.

The Lynx UK Trust has submitted an application to Natural England to carry out a trial reintroduction of six Eurasian lynx in the Kielder Forest region of Northumberland.

The trust said it is the first time an application has ever been made in the UK for this species or any other apex predator.

Last year, the trust announced plans to explore the possibility of bringing the Eurasian lynx back into the British ecosystem.

It said an international team of experts have spent the last year planning the reintroduction, consulting with national bodies, studying potential release sites and consulting with local communities and businesses.

Their findings have now been submitted to Natural England, which is the agency responsible for licensing species reintroductions in England.

The trust said that while any release would take place in England, the lynx may cross the border into Scotland and, as such, Scottish Natural Heritage is also being kept fully informed of all details of the application.

If permission is given, four females and two males will be reintroduced in the Kielder Forest region for a five-year period, wearing satellite collars to monitor their movements.

The cats will come from healthy wild populations in Europe and be subject to full veterinary screening.

The trust said the animals would be intently studied and the information gathered would be used to decide whether a full reintroduction can be carried out.

It said much of Scotland has often been highlighted as having a huge potential for lynx habitat.

The chief scientific adviser on the project, Dr Paul O’Donoghue, said: “This final application marks a significant milestone in the history of UK conservation – potentially the first return of an extinct predator, which could prove to be a really keystone species for our ecosystem.”

Dr O’Donoghue said the reintroduction of the lynx could bring economic benefits to the Kielder region.

The cats will come from healthy wild populations in Europe andbe subject to full veterinary screening

Picture: Getty. Six Eurasian lynx could be brought to the Kielder Forest region of Northumberland.