Deal agreed to protect sheep if lynx were reintroduced

Two months ago the Lynx UK Trust wound up two years of public consultations and submitted an application to Natural England to stage a trial reintroduction of six lynx into the Kielder Forest region, spanning the border between England and Scotland.

If permission is given, six Eurasian lynx (four females and two males) will be reintroduced in the Kielder Forest region for a five year period, wearing satellite collars to monitor their movements.

Whilst everyone waits on the decision, the debate on reintroduction has continued; polarised between support from the Trust and concerns from the farming industry over the threat to sheep.

But now, the Lynx UK Trust has announced an agreement with Lloyds Syndicate ARK Speciality Programs, which they say will insure the entire sheep population against lynx attacks throughout the period of a trial - if it goes ahead.

If Natural England approve the Trust's application six lynx will be reintroduced for a five year period and closely monitored with satellite tracking and other tools to see how they fit back into the UK ecosystem, where they could become a natural control on the currently overpopulated deer species.