NSA supports Scottish Minister’s pledge against lynx release

19th February 2018

The National Sheep Association (NSA) has welcomed recent remarks from Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy Fergus Ewing, who said lynx would be released in Scotland ‘over my dead body’.

Speaking at a recent agricultural conference, Mr Ewing said he could not support anything that would create further challenges or difficulties for the farming sector and made it clear he was opposed to the plans.

Following a license application from Lynx UK Trust to Natural England to release Eurasian lynx into Kielder Forest, Northumberland, in summer 2017, NSA too has been vocal in its position against the proposals, with concerns far wider reaching than just sheep losses.

Phil Stocker, NSA Chief Executive, says: “NSA has warned for some time of the dangers a unilateral decision on the proposed lynx release could bring. If it goes ahead and the lynx population expands in the way suggested by supporters, lynx could easily find their way across Great Britain’s borders. NSA has received assurances from Natural England that it will work closely with Scottish Government in considering Lynx UK Trust’s application, but it feels this level of collaboration should incorporate formal approval from the relevant bodies in England, Scotland and Wales before any decision is reached. We welcome Mr Ewing’s stark words on the topic and hope the licence application will consider this firm rebuttal from Scotland.

“Through their normal work, sheep farmers are continually supporting wildlife and grassland ecology and this valuable activity could be undermined if a lynx release were to go ahead. If sheep were taken out of landscapes like Kielder, the balance would be severely disrupted and our iconic countryside as we know it would be under severe threat.”