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Writer's pictureJennifer J

Is It A Good Idea To Reintroduce The Eurasian Lynx In The UK?


Eurasian Lynx

The UK is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world today.

This has resulted in the UK seeing many of its majestic animals

already becoming extinct.


At one time, the UK used to be home to amazing animals such as

bison, elk, brown bears, wolfs and Eurasian lynxes.

These animals once roamed what is today the UK, however, they

have been long extinct for hundreds of years.

Eurasian Lynx

The Eurasian lynx is one of many beautiful animals that are

now extinct in the UK. However, these beautiful

animals still survive today in other European countries.

It is because they still exist in other

European countries today,

that reintroducing them back into the UK is possible.


But, the question is, should we reintroduce these cats

back into the UK?

What are the positive and negative

implications for reintroducing lynxes into the UK?

There are both positive and negative aspects of reintroducing these beautiful animals back into the UK.

Eurasian Lynx

The Eurasian lynx has been extinct on the British Isles

for hundreds of years.

The Eurasian lynx went extinct in the UK around 1,300 years ago.

They have been extinct since the medevial era.


It would be great seeing these beautiful cats back in the British

countryside, after being absent for so long.

It could also be great

in reversing the decline of biodiversity that has been happening

in the UK, and, help reverse that decline.

Eurasian Lynx

Rewilding will be good for nature and our ecosystems.

It will also help restore ecosystems

such as forests, to the way that they once were in the UK.

These would be positives and benefits to reintroducing Eurasian lynxes

back into the wild in the UK.


But. There could be negatives to their reintroducation.

We have to ask ourselves,

'What about the other wild animals in Scotland?'

'How will other animals cope with the reintroduction of the Eurasian lynx?'


One of the concerning aspects of reintroducing lynxes

in the UK, is the effects that they may

have on animals in the UK that are critically endangered.

For example, Scottish Wildcats are critically endangered today,

how will the reintroduction of lynxes effect Scottish wildcats?

Eurasian lynxes are larger than Scottish Wildcats,

so, would Eurasian lynxes

then dominate forest ecosystems?


It's also a question of time and resources -

shouldn't our time and resources go into helping

Scottish Wildcats? since Scottish Wildcats are critically

endangered today,

and in desperate need of our help.


The reintroduction of Eurasian lynxes into the UK

would be great to see.

However, we should first save the

critically endangered species in the UK - such as the Scottish Wildcat -

before we start to reintroduce other animals back into the UK.

Rewilding is important in saving animals and helping the environment.



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