A predictable stand-off seems to be developing at the Kielder Forest Reserve in Northumberland (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/feb/03/plan-to-introduce-lynx-to-kielder-forest-angers-farmers). A group (Lynx Trust UK) is exploring the possibility of introducing the European lynx (Lynx lynx) to the reserve. This big cat has not been seen in Britain for over 1300 years but enthusiasts think that a population of lynx would be a big tourism boost for the region and could improve biodiversity in the forest as they would prey on the Roe deer that eat many developing seedlings (such benefits have been seen with other predator introductions in other countries). The plan has, however, caused great concern in the farming community around the area as many fear that the lynx could damage their sheep flocks (by direct predation or causing miscarriage in pregnant ewes). It will be interesting to see how this pans out but I have been to the Donana National Park in Southern Spain where the lynx seems to thrive without causing obvious problems for the surrounding populice.
No comments:
Post a Comment