While the idea of lynx prowling British woodlands sounds fanciful, across Europe the Eurasian lynx is flourishing in places where it had once disappeared. This has only happened following decades of recovery work, and it’s led conservationists to ask whether lynx could be brought back here, too.

We find out why this shy, bob-tailed wild cat vanished from Britain, the science behind proposed reintroductions and the likely impacts, along with the views of supporters and opponents.

When were lynx last in the UK?

Eurasian lynx survived in Scotland until becoming extinct around 1300. Bones and cultural references show the species was present here until at least the early medieval period; some evidence suggests that lynx survived in parts of Britain into the Middle Ages. Over centuries the species declined and became extinct due to hunting and habitat loss as wild land was converted to farmland. By the end of the medieval period, the lynx was effectively extinct in Britain.

On the continent the story was similar: lynx populations were reduced but, unlike in Britain, in many regions they remained in small numbers and later benefited from legal protection, reduced persecution and active reintroductions. Today, lynx are making a recovery in parts of central Europe due to conservation efforts. There are healthy populations in Scandinavia, the Carpathians, the Alps and they have been reintroduced in Switzerland, Slovenia and Germany. Populations are recovering in Sweden, Norway, Finland and eastern Europe.

Why bring them back? The conservation case

Natural deer control prevents overgrazing

Top predators like lynx play an important role in the ecosystem; through scent marking, they advertise their presence and change the behaviour of other species. Keeping animals on the move allows young trees and vegetation to grow and prevents overgrazing.

Lynx prey primarily on medium-sized deer, particularly roe deer. Where lynx have recolonised parts of Europe, research has shown reductions in deer numbers or changes in deer behaviour and density which can relieve browsing pressure on young trees. Studies from continental Europe suggest lynx can help restore more natural forest structure and biodiversity.

A 2015 British Deer Society commissioned report stated that for any reintroduction to happen, a non-native species licence would be required from Natural England, Scottish Natural Heritage or Natural Resources Wales. The application would have to demonstrate evidence including environmental impacts, plus public consultation.

Ecosystem recovery

By re-establishing a formerly native predator, proponents say woodlands and associated habitats can recover processes lost when top predators disappeared centuries ago. This is part of the broader rewilding rationale in place across Europe.

Nature and people

Reintroducing lynx can bring tourism and educational opportunities and provide a powerful symbol that countries are working to reverse biodiversity loss.

Where could lynx live in Britain?

Rewilding groups and feasibility studies have identified forested areas of Britain with low human density as the most suitable, particularly Kielder and other large northern forests, parts of the Cairngorms and some Highland landscapes, and remote wooded areas in Cumbria and Kintyre. These landscapes offer extensive woodland, a good prey base (roe and other deer), and relatively low livestock density; features associated with successful lynx populations elsewhere. Lynx trial site selection suggests a small number of well-chosen release sites could support a viable population.

Who’s supporting reintroduction and who’s opposing it?

Supporters

Rewilding charities such as Rewilding Britain, Trees for Life, the Missing Lynx Project and the Lynx UK Trust lead much of the campaigning and feasibility work. They argue that the lynx is the best candidate for reinstating a large predator in Britain because they are secretive, feed mainly on deer, and have a well-documented track record of recovery when protected and, where needed, reintroduced. The Lynx UK Trust has prepared formal proposals for trial releases and has run site assessments and public consultations in previous years.

Statutory voices

Natural England’s chair Tony Juniper has spoken favourably about reintroduction, emphasising that schemes must be science-led and acceptable to local communities. Central government ministers and departments have been cautious; in 2018 a high-profile application for a trial release at Kielder was refused, partly because ministers judged local “buy-in” to be insufficient and legal hurdles (for example the Dangerous Wild Animals Act and licensing) had not been resolved.

Opponents

Farming organisations, notably the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) and NFU Scotland, are strongly opposed. Their objections focus on livestock welfare and the risk of predation on sheep, the practicalities of compensation schemes, and the view that rural communities would bear the costs while benefits from, for example tourism, would accrue elsewhere. The NFU has stated that predator reintroductions like lynx are “wholly unacceptable” and has lobbied ministers to reject proposals.

Public sentiment is mixed and varies locally: recent surveys and stakeholder studies show farmers and land managers are more negative, while urban and many non-farming rural residents are often more positive. That division has made formal approval politically sensitive. As the British Ecological Society clarified in a 2023 research article, the socio-cultural considerations should be given equal weighting with ecological and biological aspects of a project.

What does the science say about likely impacts?

Academic and technical studies form the backbone of feasibility assessments. Peer-reviewed modelling and empirical work from Europe and hypothetical UK scenarios indicate:

Deer reduction is plausible but variable

Where lynx are present, roe deer densities commonly fall or redistribute, depending on habitat, prey availability and lynx density; some studies show pronounced local reductions, others more subtle behavioural changes in deer. The British Deer Society notes that translating continental results to Britain requires careful local modelling.

Low risk to people

Eurasian lynx rarely attack people; evidence from Europe shows they are shy and avoid humans. According to Rewilding Europe, the principal conflicts are with livestock, primarily sheep and young deer, rather than public safety.

Management and mitigation work

Successful reintroduction projects elsewhere have involved compensation schemes, livestock protection measures such as guardian dogs, overnight corralling and rapid response teams to deal with incidents. The Guardian noted a recent UK study modelling Kielder which found that releasing as few as 20 lynx could potentially establish a sustainable core population of around 50 animals. The study emphasised the importance of local acceptance and legal frameworks.

Real-world experience: where lynx thrive now

Reintroduced or recovering lynx populations across Europe offer instructive examples:

Scandinavia, Sweden and Finland

Thousands of lynx exist in these countries, alongside regulated hunting and compensation schemes for livestock losses. Populations are monitored and are stable or increasing.

Central Europe

Germany successfully reintroduced lynx to the Harz National Park and Bavarian forests and they are also found in the Alps. The species is understood to have delivered ecosystem benefits and enabled wildlife tourism.

Spain and Portugal

Captive breeding and release programmes have increased numbers of the Iberian lynx from fewer than 100 in the early 2000s to over 2,000 today, according to The Guardian.

These success stories show lynx can recover when protected, monitored and managed alongside people – but they also underline the need for careful, site-specific planning.

What are the main risks and legal hurdles?

Legal/regulatory

Trial releases must comply with The Dangerous Wild Animals Act and licensing laws. Reintroducing lynx would require clear legal pathways and ministerial approval.

Social acceptance

Without sustained engagement and workable mitigation (compensation, livestock protection), reintroductions risk inflaming rural-urban divisions and creating long-term conflict. According to a British Ecological Society journal, studies repeatedly show social acceptance is as important as ecological suitability.

Rogue releases

Lynx have been illegally released into the wild, which has complicated the science-led approach to releases and damaged public trust.

Could lynx return to Britain?

The answer appears to be yes, in the right areas with appropriate management in place. European examples suggest lynx can establish, reduce some deer impacts and reinstate biodiversity. However, the social, legal and political barriers are substantial: farmers’ concerns about their livestock, legal constraints, the need for compensation and mitigation schemes, and the risk that unauthorised releases could derail projects remain.

The key question is not only whether the habitat is right, but whether people living and working in the selected landscapes are willing to share them with a predator that’s been absent for centuries.

If communities can be engaged, compensation and protection mechanisms put in place, and monitoring and rapid-response systems funded, lynx reintroduction could be one of the bolder steps taken to repair Britain’s damaged ecosystems. If not, the idea is likely to remain a contested `what if’ conservation debate.

Eurasian Lynx – facts and figures

  • Weight: approximately 18kg.
  • Length: approximately 1m.
  • Height: approximately 0.75m.
  • Speed: 69km/hour.
  • Litter size: typically, 2-3 cubs.
  • Ideal habitat: forest and rocky areas providing cover to hunt prey from.
  • Population across Europe, Siberia and central Asia: 50,000 (9,000 in Europe.)
  • Food source: roe deer and larger species such as red deer, along with foxes and rabbits.