PEOPLE are questioning whether Brits will learn to live alongside big cats – but one man has already lived side-by-side with the lynx.
The Lynx UK Trust is heading up a project to ‘re-wild’ the big cats, which could be released in Scotland, Cumbria and Norfolk, and they are calling for landowners in Wales to suggest suitable land for lynx reintroduction.
Wild Eurasian lynxes, which still survive in mainland Europe, are shy.
But they are capable of tackling large prey so, if the project goes ahead, it would mean big changes for livestock farmers.
Even so, projects to reintroduce other species have done well in some areas; the red kite is no longer an unusual sight to Leader readers.
One former head keeper of big cats at Chester Zoo had a unique insight into the nature of wild cats, even taking a desert lynx kitten home for three months.
John Sumner, 73, now lives in Caernarfon but in the 60s he was based near Upton in Chester.
Mr Sumner’s duties included overseeing feeding times, keeping an eye on the health of his feline charges, which included the Eurasian Lynx, and keeping the cat house clean.
He said: “There were some animals you could actually go in with if you were careful, then there were some animals you just wouldn’t do that with.”
Among the latter were the lynxes, which Mr Sumner characterised as being wild in nature and potentially quite vicious.
“Having said that, cats in the zoo are more dangerous than cats in the wild.
“Zoo cats are around people all the time so they have no fear of humans but a wild lynx wouldn’t come near you.”
Even so, news that they may be released back into the wild has prompted mixed reactions.
The Free Press asked the public how they would feel if Denbighshire was to give lynx a new home?
Malcolm Ingham, a retired countryside head ranger from Ruthin, said it was a good idea in principle but would have to be carefully planned.
“It would be nice but my main concern would be farms, they could be predatory on livestock, they’re big enough to bring down sheep for example.
“Everyone’s got to be in agreement and the habitat has got to be there so contact with humans is minimal.
“It would take an awful lot of work to get in to it but somewhere like Snowdonia National Park is probably the most likely place for them in this area.”
On Facebook, Martin Crumpton, of Llangollen, summed his thoughts up nicely: “Another predator for my chickens then,” while Alistair Moulden, from Denbigh, quipped: “Is this the fabled lynx which, like Aslan in the Narnia books, appears at moments of ideological revolution?”
And Isaac Birchall, who runs The Computer Shop, Ruthin, added: “These people know more about big cats than we do so I’m sure it’ll be fine.
“I’m sure they wouldn’t release something that’s going to maul us all to death.”
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