Release Lynx. Why would you do this?

[HoraceCope]

and who is doing this?
Scotland lynx: The quest to catch Cairngorms' mysterious big cats - BBC News

Your post just made it sound like you were in the know somehow. Rumours in quotes etc

You're right though, it's absolutely cruel to release them like they did

If I was 'in the know' it wouldn't be rumours. It would be 'from sources'.

There are big cats roaming Britain - without a single doubt.

If there are (bearing in mind not a single one has been captured) then there is a whole backstory of breeding populations and prey that doesn't fit what we know.

I'm happy to believe - especially in the late 70s - there may have been some big cats released into the UK by arsehole owners. However to survive and breed and continue to survive and breed for 50 years does start to stretch my credulity.

Of course there may be a steady release of one a year (for example), but that really raises more questions than answers.

All of which being said, there are people living in Africa and India who have never seen a leopard.

The USA, Canada, India and countries in Africa have huge areas of wilderness land suitable for predators. That’s not to say there isn’t sometimes conflict at the margins. We are so much smaller it’s foolish to think we have similar conditions. I’ve seen a wolf in Canada, India and Alaska. All in vast areas of wilderness. Ditto leopards, lions, tigers, serval, wild cats and just about every other carnivore that hunts. However leopards are seen around villages, not in cities. The point is no apex predator is needed here.

Exactly!

I agree with this, someone must know 😡

reintroduction of apex predators…it’s also to keep right to roam in check
(in Scotland but coming to England and wales soon from all the talk)

I thought this was going to be about the body spray

Am am more scared of humans than of any native animal to the UK.

(Bully XL owners can fuck right off).

Not even the most clueless rewilders would attempt to rewind lynx in this way. They would usually require a "soft" release, where the animals are released in a suitable area but monitored, and food etc provided until it becomes clear that they can fend for themselves. And they absolutely mustn't be tame to humans!

I think they are unwanted, unlicensed pets.

Not even the most clueless rewilders would attempt to rewind lynx in this way.

Oh yes they would. They really would. Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity

Reading a country/farmer based group this week a farmer was complaining about the recently released beavers, all official, and how they’d caused a field to flood because of the dam they repeatedly build and he has to repeatedly remove it. I have no idea if that’s allowed? But obviously seriously damaging for an arable farmer. So even the official releases are causing issues.

I think releasing big cats is bonkers. As pp said, we just don’t have the same kind of territory as Montana/Norway that supports lynx/wolves.

Beavers are really good for the environment and help to prevent flooding. Farmers straightening watercourses and removing vegetation are a cause of flooding.

And planting on flood plains.

@EsmaCannonball Just looked at Countryfile. It’s true you need to slow water down upstream. Not have random beaver dams. The natural barriers allowed fish to swim underneath. They were high enough to slow down deeper rushing water. Beavers are not as good as the planned barriers. We are always susceptible to a few keen people who know nothing about civil and environmental engineering but think they do. Flooding is never going to be allied by beavers. It could be significantly reduced by schemes using engineering science and man made barriers. These are way quicker to build and can go into the best places to stem flow.

Of course we need land for food. The old fashioned flooding water meadow has all but gone. Impossible to turn the clock back. So we need better water retention higher up water courses and less hard standing. Absorbent land is so much better.

No it's not, they're two completely unrelated issues.

A lynx would struggle to kill a human, they're not a danger so there's no need to keep people away from areas where they live. Lynx will avoid humans and would generally only attack if threatened/cornered, much like adders which will be far more numerous than any lynx reintroduced and no one gets told to avoid the countryside for fear of seeing one of those, do they?

What right to roam? Is there this right?

@TizerorFizz in Scotland, you have a right to roam outside wherever you please.

@purplespink Over planted fields and large gardens? In with lambs and livestock? Not very sensible. Glad I’m in England.

The lynx presumably have the right to roam too then!

@TizerorFizz it doesn't apply to private homes/ private domestic gardens or fields on which crops grow. You're expected to behave responsibly. My family in England's back garden are right in front a beautiful field that none of them are allowed to walk on (no livestock or crops). Glad I live in Scotland where you can enjoy walking in natural beauty without worrying who owns it or if you're 'allowed'.

I know where I stand by sticking to footpaths rather than annoying landowners. Just easier and I don’t want to go where idiots release lynx! Or wolves.

@TizerorFizz the point is that there aren't any landowners to annoy.

On current form Wolves won’t be in Europe again for a long time (football reference to complement @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g ’s archers reference).

What an attitude