AS CONCERNS over pests and predation grow, the news that lynx reintroduction is now being proposed for three sites in Scotland will only add fuel to the fire.

The UK Lynx Trust has announced that it is to 'begin consultations' in early March, taking a roadshow to visit the three proposed sites, one of which is just 30 miles from Glasgow.

As it did with its initial attempt targetting Keilder forest in the north of England, the trust has claimed that lynx would bring eco-tourism revenue to remote rural communities, whilst rebalancing species pressure on habitats by keeping down deer numbers. Unlike Keilder, the trust's new Scottish pitch cites scientific research suggesting that the country could comfortably sustain around 400 of the big cats.

The three areas identified for the reintroduction consultations are; Queen Elizabeth Forest Park region, just north of Glasgow, to the west of Loch Lomond; the Glen Feshie region, next to the Cairngorms National Park; and the Kintyre Peninsula, in Argyll and Bute.

Lynx UK Trust spokesman Paul O'Donoghue explained; “We've spent about 18 months looking at habitats across Scotland and talking to various stakeholders about a trial reintroduction of lynx. Based on ecological factors like deer density and habitat suitability, these three areas have been identified for much more intensive consultation with local communities. This will ultimately lead to a multiple site application to Scottish Natural Heritage to carry out a trial reintroduction of Eurasian lynx,” he said.

Lynx reintroduction is a contentious topic amongst the farming community, on the basis that lynx could pose a threat to sheep flocks.

O'Donoghue commented: “We certainly recognise the concerns that sheep farmers have, though farming unions have repeatedly over-stated the threat, even claiming that lynx could threaten the food security of the entire UK, which is pure fantasy.

“We will be offering local farmers a range of support with predator mitigation techniques, and providing full insurance against lynx predation. Lloyds of London, the largest insurance market in the world, will insure every sheep in Britain, and pay out above market rate compensation,” he claimed.

Past chair of the National Sheep Association in Scotland, John Fyall, responded that existing predators were already causing enough problems, and protecting Scotland's rural human population should take precedence

“European lynx are not under threat in Europe – can’t we concentrate on species which need most protection, including rural people?” asked Mr Fyall.

“The Scottish Government have already ruled this out, so it is a waste of resources pursuing something there isn’t an appetite for in Scotland. But it is important that local farmers are engaged with this consultation, as I doubt that any farmer in these areas would be keen on the reintroduction,” he continued.

“We have to remember given the size of the territories proposed, it is not just the farmers in the immediate locality that need to live with lynx as they will expand their territory.

“The UK Lynx Trust have once again exaggerated a perfectly reasonable stance by farming stakeholders to protect their livelihoods but not just that; to protect some of the ecology of small species which are already under threat by a range of predators, without introducing a further one,” he stressed.

“Until they have sensible discussions taking into account predation and environmental damage from existing relocated species then they shouldn’t be looking at others. Ravens, badgers, foxes and other species are already having a big effect on ground nesting birds and small mammals and we don’t say these things lightly – we have taken into account experiences from Norwegian farmers and we’re not getting the same messages that the Lynx trust promotes,” he concluded.

NFU Scotland echoed Mr Fyall's comments and highlighted evidence gathered from the experience of Norwegian farmers: "Our members are already having to deal with the negative consequences of the reintroduction of white-tailed eagles and the illegal reintroduction of beavers," stressed NFUS vice-president, Martin Kennedy. "In each case advocates of reintroduction downplay the risks, but it is our members that end up paying the price.

“On a study trip to Norway in 2017 an NFUS delegation heard that, in 2016, Norwegian authorities paid out compensation on 20,000 sheep lost to predators. Of the sheep killed in Norway, wolverine accounted for around 34% of losses with the lynx, bear and wolf accounting for 21%, 15% and 9% respectively," he continued. “Advocates of lynx reintroduction always seek to downplay the potential impact on farming and tell farmers that their concerns are unjustified, but it is not their livelihoods that are at risk.

"The Lynx UK Trust, an organisation which is not credible, recently had a proposal to reintroduce Lynx into Kielder Forest turned down, not least because of the way the organisation behaves and engages with stakeholders,” concluded Mr Kennedy.

At last year’s NFU Scotland’s annual conference, cabinet secretary Fergus Ewing was applauded for his statement that lynx would be reintroduced in to Scotland ‘over his dead body’.

One year on, a Scottish Government spokesperson said the following: “The Scottish Government has no plans to reintroduce Lynx into Scotland. Reintroduction of Lynx would require a licence from Scottish Natural Heritage, and proper engagement with all those likely to be affected, with the need to protect livestock and other animal species appropriately considered and provided for. Any application would also need to take into account any appropriate scientific or veterinary advice.”