The lynx has been a vital part of the wider ecosystem. Despite this, they have been driven to extinction in the UK as a consequence of unregulated human activity. Cerys Deakin delves into discussions of lynx reintroductions across the world and some successes!
Eurasian Lynx. Pic Credit: ambquinn via Pixabay
The Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), once native to the UK, was an intrinsic part of wider ecosystems and crucial to the economy and our culture. Despite the importance of these animals, wild populations have been driven to extinction in the UK. The extinction of this species occurred approximately 1,300 years ago due to both habitat loss and hunting pressures on lynx and their prey, all as a consequence of unregulated human activity. Across the globe, efforts to preserve and reintroduce lynx are underway and seeing some success, and I’m here to cover it all!
Eurasian Lynx. Pic Credit: Böhringer Friedrich via Wikimedia Commons
Importance of the species:
Lynx are an iconic species with high value across the globe. Prior to extinction, this species was imperative to the health of wider ecosystems in the UK. Lynx are ambush predators that sneak up on their prey whilst hunting. Their hunting patterns are critical for regulating prey populations, such as rodents, rabbits, foxes and deer. Following their deaths, their carcasses also provide vital food sources for other species, particularly scavengers, whilst also supplying key nutrients for the soil. All of this illustrates the crucial importance of lynx for ecosystem health and functioning.
The importance and value of lynx does not stop there. Lynx are an elusive species and are a rare sight for tourists. Due to this, wildlife tourism thrives where tourists go looking for lynx, despite being an uncommon occurrence. The presence of lynx are, therefore, of high economic value to tourism operators and local economies that are reliant on tourism as a source of income.
In relation to this, lynx also hold cultural and religious significance for communities around the world. People across the globe utilise the lynx as a model species for educating people on the importance of ecosystem health, conservation and animals, acting as a symbol of interconnectedness. Alongside this, there is an element of mythology that includes the lynx. There are beliefs that the lynx has the ability to see through solid objects, meaning there is an association between the lynx and revealing the truth or being a keeper of secrets.
Reintroductions:
Loss of the lynx in wild habitats throughout Europe has been a focus for many conservationists, with events of reintroduction and new conservation methods being developed and implemented. There are hopes associated with reintroduction efforts that are more than just seeing the species in the wild again. Generally, all of these hopes relate back to the importance of lynx within the wider ecosystem.
For example, there is hope that, by reintroducing lynx to the wild, there will be a trend of wider habitat restoration and balance. The aim of reintroducing lynx to their natural habitats is to restore the ecological balance. This will include a general increase in biodiversity throughout the habitat, promoting greater diversity in flora. Furthermore, introducing a top predator back into the ecosystem will also consequently reduce overgrazing of flora throughout the ecosystem from animals such as deer. This will result in the easing of pressure on forests and ecosystems, and will ensure that forests have a sufficient amount of time to recover from grazing. Additionally, the promotion of forest restoration and health could increase carbon locking by flora, thus having benefits for the climate emergency.
The desired benefits of reintroducing lynx back into the wild are not limited to habitat and ecosystem changes; there are also benefits associated with local economies and education. Reintroducing lynx promotes wildlife tourism as a source fo income for local communities, but there must be a balance and respect in this industry for it to be sustainable and appropriate. Economic opportunities include the creation of new jobs, whether this be wildlife guides, livestock guardians or developing ‘lynx-friendly’ products.
Considerations:
The success of lynx reintroduction relies on various considerations to ensure a smooth process and efficiency in the long term. These range from social considerations to logistical considerations of implementing the reintroduction.
Often, social considerations are what hold up reintroduction efforts. This relies on social views and acceptance of the idea of a top predator being wild throughout ecosystems that humans are present alongside or within. Public attitudes are often shaped by limited or poor information regarding the behaviour and ecology of lynx, resulting in fear of the species and creating a reluctance to approve of reintroduction efforts. Many people fear that lynx, being a carnivorous cat, pose a threat to human populations. However, studies suggest that lynx are solitary and generally elusive, so will generally avoid humans to the best of their ability. Research suggests that many farmers are among those who vote against lynx introductions due to fears for their livestock. This illustrates an instance where greater protection for livestock should be implemented alongside reintroductions so as to minimise the threats that lynx pose to farmers' livelihoods.
A key logistical consideration when implementing reintroductions is effective site selection. Ensuring that the correct site for release is selected will ensure that long-term success is possible for the species and population. If the selected site for release does not feature the required conditions, prey or climate for lynx then the probability of long-term survival of the species in the area is reduced.
Eurasian Lynx, Hanover, Germany. Pic Credit: Michael Gäbler via Wikimedia Commons
Positive Examples:
There have already been efforts to try and reintroduce lynx into their wild habitats, some of which have been a great success! In countries like Germany, Slovenia and Switzerland, lynx have been reintroduced to many habitats, whereas in Norway, Sweden and Finland, efforts focus on recovering the populations that are still present in wild environments.
Switzerland has been implementing lynx reintroductions since the 1970s, when 14 lynx were reintroduced to the Swiss Alps. Fast forward to today, and the wild population in the Swiss Alps is now estimated to be approximately 250 individuals, demonstrating significant growth from the initial group first reintroduced 50 years ago. Monitoring has illustrated that the individuals in this area are fragmented populations, so the hope is to link these populations together in the future to increase genetic diversity and ensure continued survival of the species.
Whilst this illustrates direct success in growing populations, Swiss reintroduction schemes have also demonstrated increased acceptance of lynx in wild landscapes. During September 2020, approximately 52% of Swiss people voted against changing hunting laws, thus extending the regulations that protect the wild lynx populations. This is positive for the future of lynx in the Swiss environment and provides hope for their long-term survival here as protections continue to strengthen and populations increase in numbers.
Germany has also implemented reintroduction efforts for lynx with an initial release of 20 individuals in 2016. This reintroduction method is slightly different from the one that began in the 1970s in Switzerland in that each individual was released with a GPS collar. These collars are an excellent way for conservationists to monitor both individuals and populations in the wild environment, and become more informed about lynx behaviour in the modern habitat. Thanks to the lynx being released with these collars, conservationists can now say that at least 10 young have been born since first release, illustrating the success of this reintroduction.
Cairngorms, Scotland. Pic Credit: Pole-Star via Pixabay
Recent UK news:
Lynx have been in the spotlight in the UK news recently, and not for the right reasons. During January 2025, there was an illegal release of four Eurasian Lynx into the Cairngorms, in the Scottish highlands. The context behind this release has been questioned in UK news - were these abandoned pets? Was this an effort to rewild or reintroduce these individuals? The location of the release was a layby, whereby there was hay and various food sources such as chicks and meat, suggesting to some that these animals may have been pets.
When caught on video, the lynx demonstrated a unique level of tameness and little fear of approaching humans. This is atypical of lynx in the wild and therefore illustrates that if this were a reintroduction effort, it would have likely failed as the individuals were not suited to the environment. It is not uncommon for rogue rewilders to follow their own protocols in attempting to rewild environments and reintroduce species, however, these often do not result in success. This event was an example of a failure.
All four of the individuals were captured by staff from the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) and held in quarantine at the highland wildlife park for 30 days before being transferred to Edinburgh Zoo. Following the capture of these individuals, one did unfortunately die. The reason for this death is not known, but it does illustrate that effective planning and monitoring are required for the successful reintroduction and release of the species. Furthermore, the holding and quarantining of four lynx was unexpected, so it could have put unexpected pressures on the park's resources, equipment and facilities.
Glencoe, Scotland. Pic Credit: KarenRaven via Pixabay
The future for Scotland:
The first minister of Scotland, John Swinney, has ruled out lynx reintroductions during his time in government due to his feelings of poor planning and preparation. He emphasizes the need for a better understanding of planning and monitoring before any implementation takes place to ensure there are minimal negative effects for animals, the environment and people. Swinney also believes that there needs to be balance in all areas when approaching environmental and climatic issues, and the reintroduction of lynx shifts that balance. Swinney has provided hope that in the future lynx reintroductions could be implemented in Scotland, once there is thorough planning and monitoring to ensure efficiency and long-term success.
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