AFTER an absence of more than 1000 years lynx may be about to return to the Borders region.

Following a lengthy consultation process the Lynx UK Trust has selected Kielder and the Scottish Borders for a controlled reintroduction programme.

And later this summer a licence application will be made to Scottish Natural Heritage for the big cats to roam in the region over the next five years.

Lynx disappeared from UK forests around 1,300 years ago most likely as a result of fur hunting, which combined with deforestation to leave the species at just 700 individuals across Europe by the 1940s.

A similar reintroduction scheme in Bavaria has proven successful.

And experts believe bid cats in the Borders wouldn't be a threat to humans.

Dr Paul O’Donoghue, chief scientific specialist at the Lynx UK Trust, said: “These are beautiful cats which will fit beautifully into the UK environment.

“They’re extremely shy animals which have never attacked a human anywhere they live, and everywhere they live their preferred prey is deer which we have a serious overpopulation issue with in the UK.

“That overpopulation damages forest habitats that most of our wildlife rely on.

“Reintroduction of a specialist deer predator will help control the population level and force changes in deer behaviour.

“The threat of predation will keep them moving across the entire forest, grazing more sustain ably, rather than staying in one area and stripping it bare; and that benefits everything else in the ecosystem.”

Five sites across the UK were considered for the Lynx reintroduction.

On Sunday it was announced that the preferred location would be the Scottish Borders and Kielder.

Aberdeenshire and Kintyre were both considered.

Local consultations will take place in the coming months and, if the licence application is successful, lynx will be released next spring.

But farmers have hit back claiming deeper scrutiny is required before any trials can go ahead.


Lilliesleaf livestock farmer and NFU Scotland Vice President Rob Livesey told us: “This most recent statement from the Lynx UK Trust is the latest in a line of brazen and presumptuous announcements from this organisation.

“The process for securing permission for the trial release of lynx is long and complex and any application would be subject to considerable analysis and debate.


“NFU Scotland is confident that any application by the Lynx UK Trust will receive robust scrutiny, and that the Trust’s expectation of a ‘speedy and positive’ response from Scottish Natural Heritage is misplaced and misjudged.


“Farmers and crofters should be confident that NFU Scotland, as a member of the National Species Reintroduction Forum, will represent their best interests and ensure this application is thoroughly scrutinised.

"If the interests of farming and crofting could be put at risk, NFU Scotland will take all necessary steps to stop this happening.”