The lynx loose on the Scottish Highlands

On Wednesday 8th of January, wild lynx were spotted roaming the Scottish Highlands. Lynx vanished from Britain around 1300 years ago, after being driven to extinction by hunting and habitat loss, so their sighting certainly sparked some frenzy. Talk of reintroducing lynx back into the Scottish Highlands has been circulating for some time. However, this sudden release was illegal. There has been some speculation as to why these lynx might have appeared, with some thinking that the lynx may have been abandoned pets or animals released by rogue rewilders.

“As a keystone species in the ecosystem, the lynx can alter the behaviour of the food chain”

Though wildlife activists and politicians have condemned the irresponsible release of the lynx, experts have been observing the benefits of rewilding for an extended amount of time now. Secretive and shy, these big cats can grow to about the size of a labrador retriever, with pointed ears and a spotted grey-brown coat. Having already been successfully reintroduced in Norway, Sweden and Finland, the return of the lynx to the Scottish Highlands can bring about promising ecological benefits. As a keystone species in the ecosystem, the lynx can alter the behaviour of the food chain from top to bottom and make way for more balanced flows of energy throughout the ecosystem. This is known as a trophic cascade. By targeting populations of prey like deer, foxes and rabbits, lynx help keep animals in the ecosystem on the move, preventing overpopulation and over-grazing which allows plant life to flourish. The carcasses from their kills also provide food to scavenger species such as beetles or ravens and, along with their faeces, fertilise the soil. Similar schemes utilising the trophic cascade have also brought about outstanding improvements to the biodiversity of an ecosystem. One astonishing example can be seen following the re-introduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park in 1995, where their presence led to a flourishing of all forms of wildlife, from songbirds to grizzly bears. Wildlife experts have even observed a change in the landscape’s topography following their reintroduction.

Trees for Life, one of the leading charities supporting lynx’s return to Britain, report that the research has shown that the Highlands have enough habitat and prey to support around 400 wild lynx. The ecological benefits are also very clear. However, the campaign has also faced significant backlash from farmers concerned with the potential threat to their sheep. The National Farmers Union of Scotland (NFUS) noted how the lynx contributed to about a fifth of the total losses in sheep in Norway, calling it an “absolute catastrophe”. Trees for Life similarly acknowledged “overriding concerns” regarding sheep predation from stakeholders in farming. Indeed, the sheep farming industry is a large one. Rewilding Britain reports that the industry employs 34,000 people on farms and another 111,405 in allied industries.

As observed by Pete Cairns, the ‘Director of Scotland: The Big Picture’, it seems that the question of whether lynx should reintroduced lies less in science, but whether the public is willing to “tolerate this”. However, with global warming exceeding 1.5C for the first full year in 2024, the pressure to act is mounting. Scientists have long since noted the deep interconnectivity of nature and human life, and the collapse of the UK’s wildlife has been linked to various negative environmental, social and economic consequences. Factors like centuries of trampling and overgrazing by both domesticated livestock and wild animals have increased flood risk, increased risk of mass movement, suppressed the growth of important carbon sinks like trees and reduced soil quality. The livestock farming industry itself also produces significant carbon emissions that exacerbate these threats- threats that will undoubtedly destabilise all aspects of the UK’s economy. The return of the lynx is one small but effective step in combatting this.