Rewilding Britain 👉🏻 Is the lynx a more realistic candidate for reintroduction than the wolf?

#rewildingbritain #eurasianlynx #rewildingbritainlynx #lynxorwolf #lynxreintroduction #rewildbritain #carnivorereintroduction #scotlandlynx #historyoftheeurasianlynx
The Eurasian lynx territory spans right across Europe and into Asia. Any talk of reintroducing predators in the UK usually ends up in a ping pong of accelerated emotions. There's a lot of cultural baggage that makes the conversation a very heated one. It seems everyone has a theory on reintroducing wolves, but what about the lynx? Surely It’s by far the less controversial reintroduction.
Is the lynx a more realistic candidate for reintroduction than the wolf? Could it be the first carnivore to be reintroduced into Scotland?
Intro
The Eurasian lynx survived in Scotland until going extinct around 1,300 years ago due to hunting and habitat loss, but there has been confusion with timings. In 1927, a well-preserved skull thought to be around 4,000 years old was found in Sutherland. This may indicate that the lynx died out as Scotland became a wetter maritime climate. However, recent radiocarbon dating revealed the skull is actually around 1,800 years old. Also lynx thrive in similar conditions elsewhere. It’s pretty clear that loss of forest cover and human persecution are the most likely reasons for the demise of the lynx.
Having the lynx may restore natural ecological processes to Britain’s forests. One of the main reasons for reintroducing lynx is that they prey on roe deer and could keep the population down in areas where trees are being planted. Through the ecology of fear Top predators, such as wolf and lynx, keep animals on the move, ultimately they change the behaviour of animals which prevents devastating behaviours such as overgrazing. This allows vegetation to establish. This makes predatory species an important part of our ecosystems.
Unless sheep are kept in woodland, lynx will not prey on them as they rarely hunt in the open. The risk of predation to sheep is greatest where fields border woodland, but even then it is highly unusual.
The lynx rarely hunts in the open so unless sheep are kept in the woodland the risk of predation is low. The majority of forest in Scotland contains no sheep, and the majority of sheep are grazed in open habitats. If fields border woodlands the risk increases, so the distance between pasture and woodland is important. Where livestock-guarding dogs and intensive shepherding are employed, depredations are very low.
The lynx has advantages over the wolf.The lynx is not a threat to human safety (nor is a wolf) but it is not perceived as a threat like a wolf and doesn’t come with as much cultural baggage.. Its size isn’t intimidating and there are no recorded attacks on people in Europe. Unlike Wolves that hunt in packs the lynx are solitary, humans tend to perceive pack species as a greater threat.
Britain needs to make way for changes such as these. We need to start tolerating wildlife, and wildlife we aren’t used to. Nature isn’t linear, it’s not a garden with perfect pretty hedges, nature is cyclical, nature is wild. The lynx can teach us to increase our tolerance of predatory animals, can alleviate our fears. The lynx could even path the way for the wolf.
What do you think?
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[@LeaveCurious]

100% Agree! Let's get the Lynx back 😸🌿

[@TrippWhitney328]

Let’s don’t no predator should really be introduced if Britain brings back a lynx or wolves there in deep deep trouble if lynx go after roe deer there gonna eventually kill a lot and I. Mean a lot of them

[@robinhazell6019]

@@TrippWhitney328 Before making a negative comment, learn to write English correctly.

[@harryrichards372]

⁠​⁠@@TrippWhitney328that’s the whole point roe deer are destroying our forests

[@leftwingdragon6235]

I am really excited for re introducting both the Lynx and the first wolf.

[@TrippWhitney328]

Why would you be it will be horrible

[@JA-xv3qp]

I agree completely. I think you covered the major points. Lynx is a lone predator, a non-confrontational one at that, smaller than wolves and might be able to deliver very similar results that we are hoping to see with wolves. I definitely think bringing in the lynx is the right way to ease the public into thinking about predators in the uk

[@andylyon3867]

What's wrong with the leopards already here? They are great for keeping low profile.

[@carlpeberdy9086]

Yes - bring back the lynx! Sorry about this, but someone has to say it - after the re-introduction, will the changes to the herbivores behavior be known as the 'Lynx effect' - I'll get my coat.

[@AnimalEducate]

🤣🤣🤣

[@ProjectDarkWolf]

Good opportunity for sponsorship though... "The reintroduction of wildcats to Scotland. Brought to you by Lynx. "

[@carlpeberdy9086]

@@ProjectDarkWolf ....The scent of corporate greed....

[@hotelsierra86]

I support lynx reintroduction,however it would make more sense to reintroduce them to England rather than Scotland. Red deer cause the majority of damage in Scotland to young plantations,and I’m told they are too big for lynx to tackle. The bulk of tree damage in England is caused by roe deer.

[@AndrewNoFiction]

I am in agreement with Hotel Sierra 86. The lynx is a bit of a clash with Scottish efforts to repopulate the wildcat whereas England has prey that’s a better fit and just as many areas in need of over grazing protection. I would like to see a trial with radio collared animals in Richmond park London. It should rapidly prove that Lynx are no threat to dogs and give them a high profile return. The park’s raptors and corvids would massively benefit. The Forest of Dean jumps out as another area that would highly benefit. More education is required. They can be a threat to cats (my Swedish friend has lost his to Lynx), but I think the romance of the animal can win out. Scotland is crying out for wolves but the hearts and mind battle is huge as the video well articulates.

[@BooBaddyBig]

Lynx do surprisingly take red deer. Apparently deer don't survive very well after a Lynx have removed their throats.

[@MrJohnestall]

Lynx have been seen living wild in the Uk for years , they are extremely secretive .

[@Johnnymagnet92]

Lynx before the wolf. We need to do something fast!

[@awestruckbeaver3344]

I swear I read an article from the BBC about Wolves being reintroduced up in the Highlands. I personally would love to see both Lynx and Wolves being brought back.

[@TrippWhitney328]

No you don’t wolves and all predators including lynx kill everthing

[@MrJohnestall]

Lynx have always lived here they were never extinct but they are very elusive !

[@stevenr2463]

Thank you for this, very well said and explained! Just one more thing I missed (in favour of the Lynx): a Lynx will only take one sheep, while if a wolf gets into a herd it will kill more than it can eat. Dont know why, but thats a fact. Foxes do the same. Thats why in Austria (where I am) no farmer has ever complained about the reintroduction of the Lynx, as far as I know anyway.

[@1akw]

Would be nice to have both swear there's been loads of sightings of a black panther's in UK

[@tomm4073]

Let's assume Lynx were introduced in some part of Britain, this would have to be done multiple times from different donor areas on the mainland to prevent inbreeding. If or when it is done, better get it right the first time around, backed by science.

[@spiritfang36aj47]

Lynx, Bears and Wolves should be reintroduced in Scotland, Wales and some areas in England.

[@andylyon3867]

Absolutely, the UK needs the return of Arthur! The Legend of Arthur the sleeping king comes from Paleolithic tale about the sleeping bear.

[@TrippWhitney328]

NO!! That is would be catastrophic they will kill everything in there path

[@lucyharvey1827]

Spotted a lynx in north staffs in early seventies

[@maudepotvin8660]

Great video !! Love the content. Got to be honest, your hairs look awesome :)

[@nk53nxg]

I lived in rural Aberdeenshire for 20 years, close to the Cairngorms National Park. I think Lynx reintroduction is a great idea in the right areas, such as Abernethy Forest near Aviemore, or any forest area to control Roe deer. However Farmers and the shooting fraternity would persecute the Lynx heavily, the positives of Lynx reintroduction through trophic cascade as seen in yellowstone with wolves will never get the chance to happen. Rural Scotland still has a Victorian shoot anything that moves mindset. Because the mountains and moorlands of Scotland mainly cater for rich people to shoot grouse and deer the majority of land owners have no interest in predator reintroductions. I would love to just know we still have lynx and wolves in parts of Scotland, but it will take years of educating and land mangement policy changes by government to make that possible. Hill farmers will use any excuse to get a subsidy and the Lynx and Wolf will become a bogey man target to justify subsidy.

[@malcolm1148]

When I was in Aviemore I loved Abernethy. I was thinking that it would be great to have there.

[@robertclarke7848]

The Lynx is a much more realistic option.

[@robertclarke7848]

@@MindSurf248 I'd say getting the lynx in first is a lot more achievable. That way you've a top predator on the mainland and when it's a success, talks around the wolf would be easier surely

[@PaulWinters328]

Found your channel recently and subscribed right away. Great content and I learn a lot on each video. I'm genuinely surprised this channel doesnt have tens of thousands of subscribers. One day! Also.. your hair looks amazing 😊

[@Captainval28]

No not to me to me there both just as realistic cause if we really mean it when we want to repair the damage to biodiversity we have made we need to bring every species we wiped out of this country that isn’t extinct worldwide or we dont really mean it you can’t pic and chose which piece of biodiversity here in Britain we will fix and which we won’t we need to fix every piece that is capable of being fixed otherwise the point of rewilding is mute

[@AnimalEducate]

I agree, yes we need to restore the former species! However, we need to improve Britains tolerance of unfamiliar / predatory animals first. If the wolf was reintroduced now history would repeat itself..... :(

[@Captainval28]

@@AnimalEducate you have a point lynx should be reintroduced first as long as we reintroduce wolves in the future when people realise predators will do more good than bad

[@skyrocket0113]

@@Captainval28 A reintroduced predator to do more good than bad for me is when it invites me into a pub when I'm broke, rips the landlords throat out, takes over the place, & then buys me a pint & lets me drink all the beer - then that would really bring in all the cheer!!👍🛸🍺🍻😷😁👍

[@JA-xv3qp]

@@skyrocket0113 lol may be a bit unrealistic that

[@alexp3519]

I think both should be brought back. I think attitudes are changing. As 37 year old I've seen these attitudes change in my time. Pike were once considered the bogey man, by many fishery keepers and were killed when caught. Nowadays it is recognised that pike maintain fishery health by targeting sick, unhealthy fish, hence removing a disease threat which would cause a much bigger problem. I think with all things it's a vocal minority which shout the loudest and get heard. I think everyone in favour of this should make their voices heard even more.

[@agataiwanska8907]

We should have lynx in the uk

[@JG-wz4bt]

Both need to be bought back. They were both here before us. Wolves would do a better job on the bigger prey and change the landscape for better and at a faster rate than the lynx.

[@tjab1715]

Where are the brave??? Introduce them both and live with the consequences, whatever they are. Fear is is for the narrow minded and weak. Rewilding benefits outweigh the negatives!

[@AnimalEducate]

Thanks for commenting! Whilst I love your attitude towards rewilding I disagree. That kind of action will only enrage those in opposition (out come the guns). We'd be back to square one, only the opposition is even angrier and the animals have needlessly lost their lives. Sure if we take humans out the equation they may find balance!

[@andylyon3867]

Hell yeah!💪👍👍

[@julieblackstock8650]

Love the idea. But scares me a bit and also idiots would want to hunt them for fun!

[@toffeebluenose7331]

Lynx deffo,but isn't big cats already like puma,leopards,owners released in the 1970s.filmed and spotted through the uk.

[@paulgranner9305]

We haven't got a wild to start with you can walk across the entire country in a week

[@thechelsearantman6717]

The lynx is a lovely cat that should be introduced back to the scottish highlands as it will prevent road accidents from rabbits and deers

[@portcullis5622]

Do lynx teach road safety to other mammals then?🤔

[@jamesbohlman4297]

Abby, start with the kitty because he can deal with fragmented habitat; with the puppy you are dealing with Scottish land-use laws. Wolves follow Elk out of the Bob Marshall every fall.

[@walkingandadventures6114]

Reduce the population from a predicted 70-80 million to around 50 -55 million and the room for all these animals will be here..We can’t even sustain our hedgehogs at present..

[@Nate_Luke]

What's your take on introducing a smaller wolf subspecies in the UK like the Mexican grey wolf instead of the larger Eurasian wolf?

[@TrippWhitney328]

The Mexican grey wolf would not be able to survive becuase the Mexican grey wolf has a small coat so they won’t be able to survive the winters

[@Nate_Luke]

@@TrippWhitney328 I think they can handle the winter of the UK. Some parts of their habitat do experience snow and they are comfortable with it since they have a double coat for the snow

[@TrippWhitney328]

@@Nate_Luke Well really in my opinion wolves should not be reintroduced really anywhere because they kill everything and just like here elk numbers are really down around Montana and Wyoming so some wolves gotta go

[@Nate_Luke]

@@TrippWhitney328 Really? Their numbers are that low because of wolves? Can you show me the links?

[@TrippWhitney328]

@@Nate_Luke I can really tell your not a hunter but the hunting tags for elk around Montana and Wyoming are really limited right now and guess who’s killing all the elk wolves. You want to know why they are not a lot of grizzly around Yellowstone? Wolves because they are killing all the elk and also the trout in rivers that the bears eat and also they eat anything and I mean anything basically every numbers of animals around Yellowstone or in Wyoming Idaho Montana are low because of wolves

[@griimlock8922]

I think both should come back, but I'm leaning more towards wolfs......

[@ChristianParkesArt]

Great video Abi

[@AnimalEducate]

Thank you!

[@andylyon3867]

Does not matter once release wolf or lynx you won't see them.

[@cosmic4037]

Beautiful creatures that are crucial for the health of the ecosystem.

[@TrippWhitney328]

There not

[@troublingleaf]

I would like to see both, however I am a little curious how it would work, with the bison that were released I'm assuming that they're fenced into the woodland which is a shame, but will protect them from traffic however if they were to do the same with wolves and lynx (I'm not even sure a fence would keep the lynnx in) would that not mean we'd end up with too many predators, and because the ecosystem is not large enough, we'd end up with no prey for them. What I've just described is something I would actually say is not really rewilding. Ideally they'd be fully rewilded, and all animals would follow suit, but unfortunately I just don't see much likelihood of true rewinding taking place anytime soon. I don't believe our government would allow it, however true rewinding is not without its problems due to the government pushing electric vehicles, as this will mean animals (and people) are getting hit more regularly due to the animals not hearing the vehicles coming.

[@cyberwick9855]

Lynx will be easier and it's more illusive.

[@deinsilverdrac8695]

Wolf and lynx are the two option of wildest and biggest animal and with bison, moose for herbivore Did everyone forgot the brown bear, why no one speak about it, by fear to shock people that are already against wolf? It's like we don't want to talk about it, like it was a monster Same for the wolverine, it's like nobody never try to include him as a potential reintroduction predator in uk (And for herbivore this country need to reintroduce musk Ox, lemmings and reindeer) (And i stop here because it's only mediaval or antiquity extinct animal but you leopard similar to the modern persian leopard (puma would be better for uk as proxy for extinct Big cat because they're less aggressive and dangerous), lion and even hippo, elephant lived in UK)

[@AnimalEducate]

Thanks so much for your comment. I agree with you and I want to talk more about other species for possible reintroduction. Watch this space!

[@ianlim4404]

It is downright a no to have once-native predators back in Britain. I am not very interested of having the lynx back.

[@Parkerlee1000]

For me personally I'd like the wolf, but with people's perception on wolves being bad, and that they'll kill everything I feel like they won't like the wolves back in the UK hopefully one day👌🏻😊

[@raphlvlogs271]

do lynx live longer than wolves?

[@peaceandlove5214]

What a beautiful animal.

[@davidcrosby7409]

Even my grandma can handle any dog or 'pussy' as she calls them. We Brits love our dogs and cats maybe more than any other nation (and sometimes more than we love humans) and we'll do brilliantly with both; no doubt about it!

[@little_old_brit7113]

We need both as they will hunt different prey as well as each other.

[@MickGough1957]

There are too many idiots around to allow wolves. I can see fools taking selfies with wolves and the wolves being slaughtered because they attacked these idiots.

[@Bdoc76]

Bring back manbearpig.

[@Masked_One_1316]

Both! They’re natural enemies they’ll stop the other from over killing the deer. Edit: and won’t they be more alert for the other predator and deer as the other predator is an actual threat (unlike us🤣) and the deer is it’s food

[@michaeleager4635]

Ease them in with the lynx. Few packs of wolves next; start off with London so they're taken for stray dogs. Brown bears next, no worries- big cuddly teddy bears. Finally bring back the British leopard, or the nearest replacement, it's going to be wild. Anyway, start with the lynx

[@ianlim4404]

I agree that the British leopard should come back.

[@hermannrexroth6489]

We alowed both to come back in Germany

[@agataiwanska8907]

If we release the lynx then road deer population will go down and saving young trees

[@newmbdk2762]

First western people need to respect wildlife. The nation who force gov to kill wildlife that try to extand territory (Bison in germany)

[@RavenLakeStudios1]

I say both should be reintroduced

[@amirkhlifi09]

Wolf!

[@johnridley6809]

Bring back the hunt and leave the lynx and the wolf

[@josemartinezgonzalez2450]

👍👍

[@jammiedodger7040]

Really you need to add 2 predators at one time so they control each other’s population

[@jammiedodger7040]

Lynx and wolves

[@AnimalEducate]

Eventually

[@Frazsier-lx1gr]

Please don't do it! Neither Lynx nor wolf. I'm an enthusiast for both. But as I can experience here, where I live (Austria) the local population doesn't want such predators where they live. For once farmers fear for their live stock (mostly because it's money for them) and secondly the population fears the wolf like we would live hundreds of years ago. And neither politicians, nor media, nor hunting associations educate people in the right manner. They mostly stoke fears instead of educating them about the predators. And local governments adopt their own decrees for making it easier to kill predators not caring about European laws. 😟

[@Sean36745able]

The lynx have to return.

[@jimmyrichardson67]

Doesn’t the Lynx need a predator? Just a thought

[@carlpeberdy9086]

Like a gamekeeper with a gun?

[@michaeleager4635]

Struggling to survive pretty much everywhere it exists. I don't think overpopulation will be a problem

[@hermannrexroth6489]

No

[@craigh2205]

i personally dont see the wolf being reintroduced within the next 100 years the lynx would be good to be reintroduced because what i have read there has never been a recorded fatel attack on a human not even a kid so thats in their favour , with them eating farm animals now and then the government wastes a couple off billion £s each year eeasily so finding a ccouple off million to pay the farmers for their loss even every year wont be that hard and at least we get ssomething good from it

[@davidevans3223]

Wolf attacks don't seem to be an issue in the rest of Europe

[@davidevans3223]

I think they learn to avoid people as many would get shot from farmer's

[@bridder83]

bring the lynx and wolf back

[@alvinkraycraft763]

The lynx will not reproduce as fast as the wolf and will be controlled easily.

[@alarchwen6123]

Lynx and wolf introduction please! Theresa Coffee is an idiot but hopefully she will be gone in two years and we can press on with the re-introductions of both species.

[@ChristianParkesArt]

It would be great, but first we need to take back and rewild the national parks as currently they are all farmed and farmers will kill these animals to stop them killing their livestock. Maybe Scotland has some space that is not farmed though.

[@AnimalEducate]

Agree - national parks have so much potential.... let's do it already!

[@malcolm1148]

Cairngorms has some big forest, they could probably support a small population

[@davidevans3223]

Wolves need large pray to feed the pack so won't really bother smaller pray the Linux will only need small pray and no real competion im not sure it's the best wolves are the best are there examples of them without wolves working

[@vladimirberegovoy2886]

The British wiped out all big predators Where are your bears? Wolves?

[@AnimalEducate]

You answered your question 😒

[@bluedick321]

Forest density is key, whole upland areas are denuded by sheep and erosion, start planting now, in 20 years time unofficial reintroductons would go unnoticed!

[@ianspingle8865]

Yes reintroduce the lynx👍, don't think they will reintroduce the wolf to menny sheep farmers. Britain also needs a lot more trees in the high country, lynx need lots of forests.

[@TrippWhitney328]

None of them should be back

[@lecturesfromleeds614]

We should introduce monkeys 😁

[@johnstockburn6396]

Another young person speaking rubbish without any practical knowledge ,..go get a job

[@AnimalEducate]

Full time Lecturer, filmmaker, author, studying MSc in wildlife biology and conservation. Have a good day!! 😀

[@johnstockburn6396]

@@AnimalEducate bla bla bla friend of greta thurnberg ?,...keep studying and learn about the countryside ,don't try putting your own stamp on it ,.you people are like a virus