Hubber
23rd Jan 2005, 09:27
Thought this a good story for the scotland thread
IT IS more than 1,800 years since the lynx stalked and ambushed its prey in the Highland forests. But if a new scientific study is heeded by government agencies and conservation groups, that could rapidly change.
According to the research, Scotland has enough of the right habitat and plentiful non-livestock prey to bring the feline carnivore back without any damage to farmers’ livelihoods, The Scotsman has learned. The report, by David Hetherington, a PhD student at Aberdeen University, adds momentum to the growing calls for Scotland’s large, once-indigenous mammals - which became extinct at the hands of man - to be brought back.
Paul Lister, the millionaire owner of the Alladale estate in Sutherland and Easter Ross,
recently announced his intention to turn his estate into a fenced wilderness home for the European grey wolf, the brown bear, wild boar, European bison and the lynx, all of which were once natives to Scotland.
After some hard lessons in the past, conservationists are now more cautious about bringing back animals and birds which were once native to the British countryside.
But enthusiasm for enriching our fauna runs high. Ornithologists have been thrilled about re-establishing the osprey, and the more recent return of the red kite and sea eagle - but these successes have all been the result of careful management.
The stupidity of introducing alien species without full examination of the consequences has been demonstrated by the grey squirrel, whose bark-gnawing habits have killed thousands of young hardwood trees and exerted huge competition pressure on the native red squirrel.
Also, feral mink have had a devastating effect on ground-nesting seabird colonies in some areas of the Western Isles.
None of this deters Mr Hetherington, however, who has made a persuasive case for the lynx’s reintroduction.
He told The Scotsman: "Lynx are almost exclusively forest-based, and so will be away from sheep in the Highlands and focus on roe deer, which are their main prey. I would say there is both plenty of habitat and prey to support a pretty large population."
According to records, this long-legged big cat was once native to most of Britain. Standing up to 75cm tall at the shoulder, the lynx is big and powerful enough to take roe deer and smaller wild animals, but could also take sheep and medium-sized cattle if it wished.
"There are real opportunities for people in the rural economy to capitalise on this if it were to go ahead," said Mr Hetherington. "It could act as a very strong wildlife tourism icon, as large cats embody strength, grace, speed and beauty." .
But Bert Burnett, a spokesman for the Scottish Gamekeepers Association, was more cautious. "Scotland has enough predators already, and we don't need any more," he said.
"I also don’t believe for one minute that the lynx wouldn’t attack stock, and lambs would be especially vulnerable.
"Just because they live in the forest does not mean they will stay there, and they are bound to take the easiest source of food they will find."
IT IS more than 1,800 years since the lynx stalked and ambushed its prey in the Highland forests. But if a new scientific study is heeded by government agencies and conservation groups, that could rapidly change.
According to the research, Scotland has enough of the right habitat and plentiful non-livestock prey to bring the feline carnivore back without any damage to farmers’ livelihoods, The Scotsman has learned. The report, by David Hetherington, a PhD student at Aberdeen University, adds momentum to the growing calls for Scotland’s large, once-indigenous mammals - which became extinct at the hands of man - to be brought back.
Paul Lister, the millionaire owner of the Alladale estate in Sutherland and Easter Ross,
recently announced his intention to turn his estate into a fenced wilderness home for the European grey wolf, the brown bear, wild boar, European bison and the lynx, all of which were once natives to Scotland.
After some hard lessons in the past, conservationists are now more cautious about bringing back animals and birds which were once native to the British countryside.
But enthusiasm for enriching our fauna runs high. Ornithologists have been thrilled about re-establishing the osprey, and the more recent return of the red kite and sea eagle - but these successes have all been the result of careful management.
The stupidity of introducing alien species without full examination of the consequences has been demonstrated by the grey squirrel, whose bark-gnawing habits have killed thousands of young hardwood trees and exerted huge competition pressure on the native red squirrel.
Also, feral mink have had a devastating effect on ground-nesting seabird colonies in some areas of the Western Isles.
None of this deters Mr Hetherington, however, who has made a persuasive case for the lynx’s reintroduction.
He told The Scotsman: "Lynx are almost exclusively forest-based, and so will be away from sheep in the Highlands and focus on roe deer, which are their main prey. I would say there is both plenty of habitat and prey to support a pretty large population."
According to records, this long-legged big cat was once native to most of Britain. Standing up to 75cm tall at the shoulder, the lynx is big and powerful enough to take roe deer and smaller wild animals, but could also take sheep and medium-sized cattle if it wished.
"There are real opportunities for people in the rural economy to capitalise on this if it were to go ahead," said Mr Hetherington. "It could act as a very strong wildlife tourism icon, as large cats embody strength, grace, speed and beauty." .
But Bert Burnett, a spokesman for the Scottish Gamekeepers Association, was more cautious. "Scotland has enough predators already, and we don't need any more," he said.
"I also don’t believe for one minute that the lynx wouldn’t attack stock, and lambs would be especially vulnerable.
"Just because they live in the forest does not mean they will stay there, and they are bound to take the easiest source of food they will find."