The Lynx Effect

Lynx to be reintroduced to the UK after an absence of more than 1,000 years.

21:18 29 March 2016

The UK aims to launch a captive breeding programme that has proven successful in increasing the number of lynx in Spain.

 

In 2002, the number of Iberian lynx, which were once widespread in Portugal, Spain and southern France, was down to 100 with only 25 breeding females. Spain took a drastic move and captured young animals to start a breeding programme. The programme proved to be successful and between 2014 and 2015, 124 animals born in captivity were released. By the end of last year, there were 400 lynx on the Iberain peninsula in Southern Spain and a smaller new population in the hills near Toledo and in Southern Portugal.

 

Dr Paul O'Donoghue, an adviser to the International Union for Conservation of Nature cat specialist group, said: "The Iberian lynx project has been incredibly successful and we hope to emulate that in the UK,"

 

He added that Lynx UK Trust aims to start with a five-year pilot project that will see the release of three male and three female animals of breeding age from Romania.

 

He said: Any offspring will be "the first lynx born in the UK for 1,300 year.”