\n READ MORE: Scottish band frontman dies in Hogmanay hillwalking tragedy as family pay tribute<\/a>\n<\/p>\n \n The Lynx to Scotland partnership has been assessing how a potential reintroduction scheme could work since 2020. They say the region could support up to 250 lynx, which would pose no threat to people and prey on deer.\n<\/p>\n \n It comes after First Minister John Swinney<\/a> ruled out the legal reintroduction of lynx<\/a>, after the illegal release of four in the Cairngorms<\/a> last January.\n<\/p>\n \n Steve Micklewright, chief executive of the charity Trees for Life, said: \u201cNorthern Scotland can support a thriving population of lynx, but social acceptance is just as important \u2013 so, we are exploring in detail how people feel about bringing back this important missing native species.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \n \n The charity was involved in reintroducing beavers to the Highlands in November and wants to carry out similar schemes for red squirrels and a breed of cattle called the tauros.\n<\/p>\n \n Any reintroduction of lynx would begin with about 20 of the cats, before numbers are increased.\n<\/p>\n \n Lynx were native to the area but driven to extinction several hundred years ago.\n<\/p>\n \n Lisa Chilton, chief executive of the charity Scotland: The Big Picture, said: \u201cScotland has lost more of its native wildlife than almost any other country.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n