Members of the public are being invited to have their say on the potential reintroduction of lynx to northern Scotland.
The Lynx to Scotland partnership believes the wildcats could “help restore balance and breathe new life” into the Highlands and Moray landscapes.
The group of rewilding charities says the region offers good habitat for the species with enough woodland and wild prey to support up to 250 cats.
They believe the animals could bring “significant benefits for biodiversity, landscapes, communities and businesses”, including by helping to manage deer numbers and through tourism.
However, as well as deer, labrador-sized, forest-dwelling lynx are also known to target livestock, sparking concerns by farmers their sheep could be hunted by them.
A licence would need to be approved by Scottish government agency NatureScot before any scheme could go ahead.
However, the Scottish government said it does “not intend to reintroduce lynx or any other large carnivores in the foreseeable future”.
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The consultation comes a year after four lynx were illegally released into Cairngorms National Park.
The animals were captured after several days on the run. One died, but the other three – named Bluebell, Caledonia and Cardrona – are currently being cared for at Highland Wildlife Park in Kingussie.
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Lynx to Scotland – a partnership between Scotland: The Big Picture, Trees for Life and The Lifescape Project – has been assessing how a potential reintroduction scheme could work since 2020.
Steve Micklewright, chief executive of Trees for Life, said: “Northern Scotland can support a thriving population of lynx, but social acceptance is just as important – so we are exploring in detail how people feel about bringing back this important missing native species.”
Lynx to Scotland said any reintroduction of the species would begin with about 20 cats being released gradually over several years.
Long-term monitoring via tracking collars and camera traps would be used to track any negative impacts such as sheep predation, alongside benefits such as gains for biodiversity and tourism revenue.
Lisa Chilton, chief executive of Scotland: The Big Picture, said: “Scotland has lost more of its native wildlife than almost any other country.
“Reintroducing lynx could help restore balance and breathe new life into Highland and Moray landscapes, but it would be essential to do this in a considered, responsible way that addresses questions and concerns.”
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Some 89,000 households across 37 postcodes will receive mail about the proposals.
A total of 42 sessions will take place in the Highlands and Moray as part of a programme of public engagements starting on 26 January.
Lynx to Scotland Partnership said there will be further opportunities for individual discussions and meetings between organisations in the spring.
A Scottish government spokesperson said: “We recognise the role that reintroductions of native species can play in nature restoration but any proposed reintroduction would require significant consultation, ensuring the views of those who would be most affected by any species reintroduction are fully taken in to account.
“While we do not intend to reintroduce lynx or any other large carnivores in the foreseeable future, because of the potential for negative impacts on farms and rural communities, we support the targeted reintroduction of beaver populations where appropriate.”
