![\"Eurasian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_Lynx-Image-by-Berndt-Fischer.jpg\")
Eurasian Lynx(Image: Berndt Fischer)<\/p>\nThe big cat could be brought back to the Northumbrian countryside under new conservation plansEurasian Lynx(Image: Berndt Fischer)<\/p>\n
The deputy leader of Northumberland County Council<\/a> has said the Tory<\/a>-led administration at County Hall is opposed to the reintroduction of lynx to the county. Coun Richard Wearmouth was speaking after a successful scheme in Kent was branded a \u201cmajor milestone\u201d in the bid to reintroduce the cats to the countryside for the first time in centuries.<\/p>\n A state-of-the-art lynx enclosure was unveiled by the Wildwood Trust at its woodland discovery park in Herne near Canterbury. The space has been engineered to breed the predators for future reintroductions.<\/p>\n The Missing Lynx Project has been assessing whether Eurasian lynx could be reintroduced into parts of Northumberland<\/a>, Cumbria and the Scottish Borders. Supporters say restoring the cat, which was native to the UK before going extinct in the Medieval Period, could help control the populations of large prey animals such as deer and lead to more balanced ecosystems.<\/p>\n However, Coun Wearmouth said doing so would put unnecessary strain on the county\u2019s traditional hill farmers amid fears the cats could target livestock.<\/p>\n Coun Wearmouth said: \u201cIt would be a definite no from the council if we have got anything to do with it. I don\u2019t know what role we would have in this.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a nice, romantic idea but ultimately people have to make their livelihoods. Hill farming is difficult enough with all the things they have to deal with, never mind introducing an apex predator.<\/p>\n \u201cI have never found a farmer who is keen and I you can understand why. It\u2019s people\u2019s livelihoods that are at stake and it\u2019s so difficult already for farmers, particularly a hill farmer.\u201d<\/p>\n The Missing Lynx Project is overseen by the Lifescape Project, which started to investigate the possibility of reintroducing lynx in April 2021. North-west Northumberland and the border areas with Cumbria and Scotland are the only areas with the extensive forest habitats needed by the lynx to thrive.<\/p>\n The project say that of more than 1,000 people in the project who responded to a questionnaire, 72% were supportive of a lynx reintroduction. It is now working to address any concerns so that any future reintroduction is \u201csuccessful for lynx, nature and people\u201d.<\/p>\n The Missing Lynx Project was contacted for comment on Coun Wearmouth\u2019s remarks.<\/p>\n Join our Northumberland WhatsApp community<\/p>\n Join our Northumberland WhatsApp community<\/a> for all the latest news Northumberland news direct to your phone.<\/p>\n To join you need to have WhatsApp on your device. All you need to do is choose which community you want to join, click on the link and press ‘join community’.<\/p>\n No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the ChronicleLive team.<\/p>\n We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners.<\/p>\n If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘exit group’.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re curious, you can read our privacy notice<\/a>.<\/p>\n