From Hugh Webster at Scotland the Big Picture, Kingussie, Highland, UK
I was disappointed to read such a downbeat assessment of the chances for a successful Scottish lynx reintroduction. Of course, it is neither simple nor impossible, merely difficult, but you should rest assured that many dedicated people are working hard to overcome remaining barriers (1 February, p 22).
Rather than write off Scotland’s hopes of restoring its missing lynx just because reintroductions of apex predators are difficult, we should ask whether potential conflicts could be successfully and fairly managed within the sort of wildlife management schemes common in other countries. If not, then why is it that other countries, some with more people and fewer resources than Scotland, can somehow manage to live with much more challenging species like elephants and tigers, but the UK still can’t co-exist with lynx?
