ONE year on from the initial licence application by the Lynx UK Trust to reintroduce lynx to the British countryside, the National Sheep Association has re-emphasised the risks granting such a licence would bring.

NSA has been vigorously countering the rewilding arguments brought by Lynx UK since its licence application was first mooted, insisting instead that releasing lynx would have many negative consequences, not just for sheep but also for other wild species and the lynx themselves.

NSA chief executive Phil Stocker said: “If those raising the debate from the side of the lynx were more open to discussion and willing to hear counter points, they might understand the problems that reintroducing this wild cat would bring. UK farming is not set up to deal with this kind of predator, and we feel very strongly that its reintroduction would be hugely damaging.

“This doesn’t just apply to livestock and the livelihoods of those who make their living on the land, but to all wildlife and ecosystems. The lynx has been extinct in the UK for more than 1000 years and the UK’s natural life would not be prepared for this level of new predator.

"While Kielder and north west parts of the Scottish Highlands may provide suitable habitat and sufficient food sources in theory, they are isolated from other such areas of habitat, meaning we’d never get to the minimum population of lynx needed to avoid the welfare issues of inbreeding and genetic deformities. In addition, lynx are known to feed on red squirrels and ground nesting birds such as the curlew.

“The bare fact of the matter is the lynx does not belong in the UK wildlife ecosystem anymore,” stated Mr Stocker.

NSA also highlighted that other countries, such as Norway, were struggling to cope with the cats. Mr Stocker continued: “Unlike in the UK, sheep are regularly housed or penned at night-time in Norway and are often herded by shepherds by day. Even then, we hear of lynx clearing a six-foot gate to kill and take sheep. With UK sheep roaming freely and unattended for most of the day they are highly likely to be even more at risk.”

NSA added that they were taking it as a 'positive sign' that a year has passed since the licence application was submitted, without any official verdict, as this seemed to show that time and consideration was being given to the situation.

However Scottish NSA regional chairman, John Fyall, stated that he didn't even feel like this was a topic that should be being brought up, a year on. He said: "I don't see that we should be having an 'anniversary' of something that didn't happen.

"There are so many other, more important, challenges facing the industry, and they are what we should be focusing on. We should be trying to focus peoples minds on food production, and what is going on with Europe, not going over old ground."