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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 26th July 2016
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Preferred locations for lynx reintroduction announced
The local consultation is expected to last two to three months.

Proposal moving to Kielder Forest and Borders area

Northumberland and the Scottish Borders have been announced as the ‘preferred’ locations for a trial reintroduction of Lynx to the British Isles.

The Lynx UK Trust are currently engaged in research to identify potential release sites, as well as carrying out consultations on the reintroduction of these cats to the UK.

On Monday (25 July), the organisation revealed that the proposal for the reintroduction was moving to the Kielder Forest and Borders area. Consultations will now begin in the region with stakeholders organisations and the local community.

Lynx UK Trust believe that the area is an ideal candidate for the reintroduction efforts because of its limited road networks and low human population density. It is also the largest area of continuous forest largely contained from sheep farming.

The local consultation is expected to last a few months, after which the Trust will apply to Natural England and Scottish Natural Heritage for a licence.

"This is by no means a final decision or a foregone conclusion,” said Dr Paul O'Donoghue, Chief Scientific Advisor for the Trust. “We're very interested in what everyone in this region has to say about the idea. They could be living and working alongside the lynx in the near future, which really is an unprecedented opportunity in the history of UK wildlife reintroductions.”

The Eurasian Lynx has been extinct in the UK for over 1,300 years, but the Lynx UK Trust believes it will help control deer populations and reduce damage to forests. Opponents, however, fear that the reintroduction could pose a threat to British livestock.

In a statement, Phil Stocker, NSA chief executive said: “We are dismayed that Lynx UK Trust is still pursuing plans to release lynx, as we do not share their belief that the UK has any suitable locations. We are too small an island and too densely populated.”

NSA’s concerns about the reintroduction were recently detailed in a report on The wider consequences of the introduction of Eurasian lynx to the UK.

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.