The beautiful Lynx could be reintroduced into Scotland.
These beautiful cats have been extinct in Scotland for hundreds of years now. However, for the first time in around 500 years, the lynx could set foot in Scotland again and be reintroduced into the Scottish highlands.
This would be great news and wonderful to see these beautiful cats once again roam the Scottish forests that they once roamed.
How Can The Lynx Be Reintroduced To Scotland?
The lynx has been extinct in Scotland for hundreds of years, so, how can the lynx be reintroduced into the Scottish highlands?
The lynx can be reintroduced into the highlands of Scotland because they still exist in other European countries. Before we get to that though, there are four different species of lynx in the wild, and, not all four species of lynx are found in Europe.
The four species of lynx are:
1) The Canadian lynx
2) The bobcat
3) The Iberian lynx
4) The Eurasian lynx
Two of these species of lynx are found in Europe: both the Iberian lynx and the Eurasian lynx are found in Europe. The Eurasian lynx is also found in Asia.
The Iberian lynx today is endangered. There are less than 900 Iberian lynxes today, therefore, they are extremely vulnerable to extinction.
Thankfully, the Eurasian lynx is not endangered and in a much healthier position. The Eurasian lynx is not endangered or at risk of extinction today. They are found in many parts of the European continent, and, they are also found in Asia, especially in central Asia in countries like Mongolia, Afghanistan and China.
The lynx that was in Scotland, and the lynx that could be reintroduced into Scotland, is, the Eurasian lynx. The study found that 400 Eurasian lynxes could be supported in the wild of Scotland for reintroduction into the highlands of Scotland.
The reintroduction of the Eurasian lynx into Scotland depends upon two things: reintroducing the cats into their suited ecosystem and ensuring that the cats have a source of food. The Eurasian lynx eats roe deer's and foxes in the wild and they are found living within forests in the wild. Therefore, Scotland still has a suitable ecosystem and source of food for lynxes to be reintroduced into the wild there.
Things We Should Considered
The prospect of reintroducing lynxes into Scotland again is exciting. It would be great to see these beautiful cats roam the Scottish countryside again.
But.
We should perhaps take into consideration how this reintroduction will affect species in Scotland which are endangered - such as the Scottish wildcat. Although the Eurasian lynx doesn't seem to prey on the wildcats, we should take Scottish wildcats into conservation if we reintroduce lynxes into the Scottish highlands.
Scottish wildcats are critically endangered, and, they are at risk of extinction today. Scottish wildcats are extremely fragile, therefore, we must take them into consideration when reintroducing lynxes into the wild of Scotland. Lynxes are bigger than Scottish wildcats and wildcats also rely on forests for their survival. With the reintroduction of lynxes, we should consider reintroducing them into areas of Scotland away from the Scottish wildcat. That way, both species of cats could thrive.
Hopefully, we will get to see beautiful lynxes grace the Scottish countryside again, as they are beautiful cats and it would benefit forest ecosystems within Scotland.
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