THOUSANDS of people have visited a travelling exhibition on the potential reintroduction of lynx to Scotland.
Next month, The Missing Lynx exhibition – which uses interactive displays to tell the story of the species’ extinction in the UK and their reintroduction across Europe – will open its doors at Moffat Town Hall between August 15 – 18.
More than 2000 people have already seen the display as it travels around towns in northern England and southern Scotland in a bid to give locals the opportunity to ask questions and share their views about a potential reintroduction project in the area.
A partnership between The Missing Lynx Project, the Northumberland Wildlife Trust, The Lifescape Project, and the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts, the exhibition tells the story of how lynx once thrived in the forests of the UK until they were pushed to extinction due to habitat loss and hunting around 1300 years ago.
Hundreds of visitors have already filled in a questionnaire asking for their views on reintroducing the species, which will inform the work of the partners moving forward.
“Lots of people have told us they didn’t know about lynx before seeing the exhibition and the fact they used to live here,” said Dr Deborah Brady, lead ecologist at the Lifescape Project.
“Visitors have been keen to know more and are interested in how lynx improve forests for other wildlife.
“The history of lynx in Britain and the fact that communities are helping them come back across Europe are real talking points.
“We want as many people as possible to fill in our questionnaire and give us their views about lynx.”
Farmers have previously expressed their anxieties about any potential reintroduction, with the chief executive of the National Sheep Association, Phil Stocker, comparing lynx predating on sheep to attacks by domesticated dogs.
“We know the effect that domestic dogs attacking sheep has on farmer anxiety levels and the repulsion these attacks are met with by the public,” said Stocker.
“Why it would be OK for a sheep to be attacked by a lynx instead is irrational.”
Deer are thought to make up the majority of a lynx’s diet, with reintroduction touted as a method to help reduce Scotland’s spiralling population, which currently have no natural predators other than humans.
However, lynx are also known to predate upon sheep as well as other small mammals such as rabbits and grouse.
But not all farmers are opposed to their reintroduction, with Northumberland-based farmer John Creswell saying he felt it would be “entirely appropriate” to consider bringing back the species.
“I am a sheep farmer and landowner with a strong interest in helping nature recover in Northumberland,” he said.
“I enjoyed my visit to the Missing Lynx roadshow – it taught me a lot about this animal.
“Now that we have more woodland in the region it would seem entirely appropriate to review the opportunities for lynx reintroduction.”
Tickets for the free exhibition can be booked on The Missing Lynx Project website.
