Fresh study says Kintyre would be suitable for lynx rewilding
Although Scottish sheep farmers might have thought the reintroduction of large carnivores had been taken off the agenda, a new study on the most suitable areas for the reintroduction of the Eurasion lynx in Scotland was released this week.
Despite Defra Secretary Michael Gove giving the thumbs down to a pilot project proposing the release of a number of lynx in the Kielder Forest area in England – and a categorical promise from Holyrood rural economy secretary, Fergus Ewing, that he would veto any release in Scotland – rewilding studies continue to identify areas for such projects.
Using state-of-the-art tools, a project led by Stirling University researcher Tom Ovenden assessed three areas – the Scottish component of Kielder Forest in the Borders, Aberdeenshire and the Kintyre Peninsula – for the release of lynx.
Of the three sites considered, the study – which the researcher said was aimed at enabling an informed and comprehensive decision-making process – indicated that the Kintyre Peninsula was the most suitable, with the population spreading across the Highlands in the 100 years following release.
However, he added that while the research suggested that Scotland was ecologically suitable for the reintroduction of Eurasian lynx, it was only part of the debate.
He said: “Our research informs one aspect of a complex decision-making process that must involve a wide range of stakeholders and, as a result, it does not recommend whether we should, or should not, reintroduce Eurasian lynx to Scotland.”