The National Sheep Association (NSA) has claimed that the Lynx UK Trust is close to applying for a release licence for lynx in the UK, but believes that current legislation would not allow such a release to take place.

The Eurasian lynx disappeared from the UK over 1,000 years ago, but renewed interest in rewilding, and evidence of positive impacts from reintroducing larger predators to certain habitats, have rekindled debate around a possible reintroduction. Polling commissioned by the Lynx UK Trust last year suggested 90% of the public would support for a reintroduction.

In June 2016, the Trust announced that it would focus its attention on Kielder Forest, spanning Northumberland and the Scottish Borders, as a preferred site for a trial reintroduction of a small number of lynx. However, the NSA has refused to engage with the Lynx UK Trust, having turned down an offer of a place on the Trust’s Project Advisory Group last year and dismissing the overture as “Inappropriate.”  
 
On Monday, NSA claimed that lynx are classed as dangerous wild animals under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, and that it would therefore be a criminal offence to keep them without a local authority licence (which are only currently available for zoos and captive animals, not for animals being released into the wild).

The Sheep Association also claimed farmers would be legally allowed to shoot lynx they believed to be causing distress to their animals (and further suggested that the Lynx UK Trust is working to change the law to protect lynx, meaning the only recourse for farmers who lost sheep to lynx would be claiming compensation from the trust).

NSA chief executive Phil Stocker said, “It is still not clear when the Lynx UK Trust will make an application for a release licence for lynx, but it has become clear there would need to be a change in current legislation to keep such a release legal. In my opinion, this is very unlikely to happen in the near future given the raft of priority legislative work needing to be done after the Great Repeal Bill.”

Stocker continued, “We are confident current legislation will not facilitate a release and any appetite for a regulatory change at a time when there will be so many other priorities is unjustifiable. We are confident that pastoral livestock farming already delivers a highly attractive countryside with environmental, economic and social benefits - I cannot accept that lynx could improve or deliver anything more. NSA has also secured confirmation that irrespective of which side of the border any release is planned for in Kielder Forest, Northumberland, any licence application to either Scottish Natural Heritage or Natural England will be considered jointly before any decision is made.

“NSA is fully opposed to all Lynx UK Trust’s processes and proposals around releasing lynx. The species has been absent from the UK for thousands of years, and our countryside now is far too fragmented and built up to support a viable population of lynx. The species would challenge the way our countryside is managed, a countryside which is already valued and appreciated by rural residents and visitors alike.”

On Tuesday, Lynx UK Trust declined to comment in response to NSA’s claims.

However, a Natural England spokesperson said, “It is our statutory duty to assess any application against the relevant legislation, government policy and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Guidelines for Reintroductions and Other Conservation Translocations. Before issuing any licence we will consider aspects such as the impact on biodiversity and socio-economic interests; the likely success of the project in its conservation objectives; the balance of public support; a suitable exit strategy; and disease and animal welfare.

“We will only grant a licence where the application satisfies these requirements.

“The UK Lynx Trust are carrying out a public consultation, and will make the results of this available to us as part of their application. We encourage views on the project to be made to the UK Lynx Trust, to be included in their public consultation.

“Upon the receipt on any application for a reintroduction of lynx to England, we plan to invite views on the application to be submitted to us online.”