The country\u2019s lost lynx could stalk the forests again \u2013 and Kent animal park visitors will have a front-row seat.<\/p>\n
Wildwood Trust has unveiled a state-of-the-art lynx enclosure at its woodland discovery park in Herne, near Canterbury.<\/p>\n
The Wildwood Trust near Canterbury has unveiled a scheme to reintroduce lynx into the wild. Picture: Harding-Lee Media<\/p>\n
Known for reintroducing European bison, the conservation charity has engineered the space to breed lynx for future reintroductions.<\/p>\n
Paul Whitfield, director general, said: \u201cLynx have been part of Wildwood for many years and are a vital species in telling the story of Britain\u2019s natural heritage.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen people visit Wildwood, they walk through a living woodland filled with the animals that once shaped our landscapes \u2013 from red squirrels and pine martens to wildcats, bison and wolves.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis new facility is about more than creating a home for our lynx; it\u2019s about helping to move them from a species we\u2019ve lost to one we\u2019re bringing back.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Whitfield says the concept of lynx living in wild environments is \u201cnot only feasible\u201d but \u201cincredibly exciting\u201d.<\/p>\n
Paul Whitfield Wildwood Trust’s director general. Image: Harding-Lee Media<\/p>\n
The charity\u2019s Missing Lynx Project is exploring how the animals could one day return to the forests of Britain, he added.<\/p>\n
The scheme, run by The Lifescape Project with Northumberland Wildlife Trust and The Wildlife Trust, is investigating whether they could return after more than 1,000 years.<\/p>\n
The focus is on Northumberland, Cumbria and southern Scotland, checking if habitats and communities are ready.<\/p>\n
The Eurasian lynx, a native predator wiped out in medieval times, helps control deer and other prey, keeping ecosystems in balance.<\/p>\n
With woodland cover now more than doubled, experts say north-west Northumberland could host a viable population.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
A lynx inside a new enclosure at the Wildwood Trust near Canterbury. Picture: Harding-Lee Media<\/p>\n
Dr Deborah Brady, lead ecologist at The Lifescape Project, said: \u201cWe\u2019ve done an in-depth consultation and it shows local people broadly accept the idea \u2013 and we also know that lynx could thrive in the area.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are continuing to discuss with local people to consider how a reintroduction project could work to maximise benefits and reduce risks.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hope to apply for a licence, but only once we have a plan that\u2019s designed together with local people \u2013 one that sets out measures that are feasible and can actually work.\u201d<\/p>\n
She added: \u201cThe new lynx habitat at Wildwood, just outside Canterbury, combines innovative enclosure design with public education and research.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt provides a naturalistic woodland environment that reflects the species\u2019 preferred habitat and supports potential future breeding programmes \u2013 a vital step should reintroduction plans be approved.\u201d<\/p>\n
The enclosure is home to long-standing lynx residents Flossie and Torridon. With over 300 metres of fencing and a raised viewing walkway, visitors can get up close to the elusive cats.<\/p>\n
The Wildwood Trust near Canterbury has unveiled a scheme to reintroduce lynx into the wild. Picture: Harding-Lee Media
Mark Habben, director of zoological operations at Wildwood. Image: Harding-Lee Media<\/p>\n
Mark Habben, head of zoo operations, said: \u201cOur ambition is to breed lynx in the future, and this facility has been designed with that in mind.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut just as importantly, it provides an engaging and educational habitat where visitors can connect with this remarkable species.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the new viewing platform, people will be able to experience these animals up close and appreciate their role in healthy ecosystems.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hope this exhibit helps challenge some of the myths surrounding lynx and showcases why they deserve a place in Britain\u2019s wild future.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sally Holt, head of carnivores at the Wildwood Trust. Image: Harding-Lee Media<\/p>\n
Sally Holt, head of carnivores and small mammals at Wildwood, said: \u201cWhile some people misunderstand lynx and how they live, in reality, they are shy, solitary animals that avoid human contact and play an important role in keeping ecosystems healthy.<\/p>\n
\u201cPart of our job at Wildwood is to help people see the lynx for what it truly is \u2013 a quiet, elusive predator of deer that once helped balance our natural landscapes.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The country\u2019s lost lynx could stalk the forests again \u2013 and Kent animal park visitors will have a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":234131,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[2851,980,1397,2759,191,90,56,54,55,3520,4407],"class_list":["post-234130","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-wildlife","tag-animals","tag-canterbury","tag-environment","tag-herne-bay","tag-kent","tag-science","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom","tag-whats-on-news","tag-wildlife"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/234130","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=234130"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/234130\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/234131"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=234130"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=234130"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=234130"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}