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Trust seeks views on Lynx reintroduction
Lynx
The Lynx Trust suggests that introductions take place in Aberdeenshire, Argyll, Northumberland, Cumbria and Norfolk.
Consultation to consider impact on UK ecology

A consultation to discuss reintroducing the lynx to the UK has been launched by the Lynx UK Trust.

The consultation period will last for six weeks, ending on December 9 2015, and will discuss the reintroduction of the species to five sites in 2016.

The consultation will also consider the impact on UK ecology and industries including tourism, farming and conservation.

Earlier this year, the Lynx UK Trust announced their hopes to carry out a trial reintroduction of Eurasian lynx to the UK. Wiped out in the UK over 1,300 years ago by fur hunters, lynx have been successfully reintroduced across Europe.

The team hope that reintroduction in the UK will provide a 'valuable natural control' on the UK's overpopulated deer species, leading to the regeneration of forests and a boost to the entire ecosystem.

However, the NFU have branded the idea 'expensive with a high risk of failure'. 

NFU Countryside adviser Claire Robinson said: “In our view any re-introduction of lynx would be expensive with a high risk of failure - we believe efforts, and finances, would be better focused on retaining current biodiversity.

"The NFU will respond in full to any official consultation from Natural England. We will continue to raise these very serious concerns with Natural England as the licensing body.”

The Lynx Trust suggests that introductions take place in Aberdeenshire, Argyll, Northumberland, Cumbria and Norfolk.

Until the New Year, the consultation will run at a national level, moving onto more detailed consultations at a local level in areas where trials are planned.

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NSA webinar explores sheep tailing and castration

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is to host a free webinar on the castration and tail docking of lambs.

The webinar, 'Understanding the tailing and castration consultation: A guide for sheep farmers', will be hosted online on Monday, 2 March 2026 at 7.30pm.

It comes during a government consultation into the methods used for these procedures. Farmers are encouraged to engage before the consultation period closes on Monday, 9 March 2026.

The webinar offers clear and actionable guidance to support farmers to contribute meaningfully to the consultation and prepare for potential changes.

On the panel will be former SVS president Kate Hovers, farmer and vet Ann Van Eetvelt and SRUC professor in Animal Health and Veterinary Sciences Cathy Dwyer. Each panel member will utilise their own specialism and expertise to evaluate risks and outcomes to sheep farming.

Find out more about the webinar on the NSA website.