The National Sheep Association has blasted the plans, calling them potentially "devastating" if the big cats are brought back to the area after 1,300 years.
Plans to reintroduce big cats to the wild in Scotland have been
branded as potentially “devastating” by the National Sheep Association.
The Lynx UK Trust wants to see the animals in the Scottish countryside again, including in the Galloway Forest, and claim to have wide backing for the proposal.
But the NSA see the lynx, which can grow up to 130cm long and weigh up to 40kgs, as a predator and a danger to valuable farm animals.
George Milne, the association’s Scottish Development Officer, said: “This has the potential to lead to devastating consequences for sheep and the welfare of sheep that graze our hills and uplands. “When we hear about releasing lynx on a trial basis, you can guarantee they will never go away again.”
And the organisation’s chief executive Phil Stocker added: “While we can understand Lynx UK Trust’s enthusiasm for canvassing public views and using these views to give evidence of public support, it is disingenuous to do this prior to a proper, unbiased and balanced consultation. “NSA has asked the organisation to stop seeking largely disconnected public support and move forward with a licence application, to enable a proper and appropriate consideration of the short-term and long-term economic, environmental and social implications. It is clear to see from the generally positive response to lynx reintroduction plans that it is very easy to promote a nice image for the general public around the big cat. However, these animals are high level predators whose reintroduction would directly impact on sheep farmers and related businesses.”
Mr Stocker said: “Compensation would not be a straight-forward option for the sheep sector, as who will determine the value of the animal?”
The Lynx Trust UK last week claimed that Dumfries and Galloway was “wonderfully placed” to benefit from the reintroduction of the Eurasian Lynx claiming it could be worth millions of pounds to the local economy.
The animals were last seen in Britain 1,300 years ago.
source
The Lynx UK Trust wants to see the animals in the Scottish countryside again, including in the Galloway Forest, and claim to have wide backing for the proposal.
But the NSA see the lynx, which can grow up to 130cm long and weigh up to 40kgs, as a predator and a danger to valuable farm animals.
George Milne, the association’s Scottish Development Officer, said: “This has the potential to lead to devastating consequences for sheep and the welfare of sheep that graze our hills and uplands. “When we hear about releasing lynx on a trial basis, you can guarantee they will never go away again.”
And the organisation’s chief executive Phil Stocker added: “While we can understand Lynx UK Trust’s enthusiasm for canvassing public views and using these views to give evidence of public support, it is disingenuous to do this prior to a proper, unbiased and balanced consultation. “NSA has asked the organisation to stop seeking largely disconnected public support and move forward with a licence application, to enable a proper and appropriate consideration of the short-term and long-term economic, environmental and social implications. It is clear to see from the generally positive response to lynx reintroduction plans that it is very easy to promote a nice image for the general public around the big cat. However, these animals are high level predators whose reintroduction would directly impact on sheep farmers and related businesses.”
Mr Stocker said: “Compensation would not be a straight-forward option for the sheep sector, as who will determine the value of the animal?”
The Lynx Trust UK last week claimed that Dumfries and Galloway was “wonderfully placed” to benefit from the reintroduction of the Eurasian Lynx claiming it could be worth millions of pounds to the local economy.
The animals were last seen in Britain 1,300 years ago.
source
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