Gove will not fast-track lynx reintroduction decision

The National Sheep Association (NSA) said is was concerned about any notion that Michael Gove may be prepared to accelerate the application process, after a formal proposal for the release of the wild cats in Kielder Forest, Northumberland, was submitted to Natural England, the government’s environmental advisory body, earlier this year by Lynx UK Trust.

Phil Stocker, chief executive of the NSA, which has grave concerns over the application, said: “I know Mr Gove is interested in these proposals and I am certain now is the time for individual farmers, land managers and their representative organisations to make their feelings heard.

“I would go as far as urging every farmer who has views over this to write to the Secretary of State so he can appreciate the strength of stakeholder concerns, which go way beyond the losses that will be suffered by sheep farmers.”

As well as predation on their flocks, sheep farmers fear any reintroduction of the lynx to the British landscape after an absence of hundreds of years, would also come with disease and welfare risks, and that it was a simple matter of striking a compensation deal with farmers whose livestock are attacked by lynx.

A spokesperson for Natural England said: “Any decision to grant a licence to reintroduce lynx into the wild in England will be based on the impacts on affected communities, the wider environment and follow international guidelines.”

A decision on the application is expected in the coming months.