Lynx and wolf reintroductions to England could be put on hold

Lynx and wolf reintroductions to England could be put on hold - Natural History Museum

The UK's environment secretary Thérèse Coffey has told farmers that she does not support reintroducing wolves or lynx to the English countryside.

Lynx are seen by many as the next good candidate for rewilding in the UK, although plans have met resistance from some farming communities (Image: Julie Lamour on unsplash)

While this was welcomed by some farmers, it has angered conservationists who argue that wild carnivores are needed to successfully restore the environment.

The UK's environment minister has poured cold water on any potential future plans to reintroduce species such as wolves and lynx to England.

These have already seen animals such as the white-tailed eagle, red kite, pool frog, ladybird spider, pine marten and Eurasian beaver successfully brought back.

Speaking at the annual National Farmers Union conference in Birmingham this week, in reference to projects to bring back native carnivores Thérèse Coffey said that 'we just don't need to and we won't.'
Over recent years, plans to reintroduce species that once lived in the UK but were driven to extinction have rapidly expanded.

There has been increasing interest in returning once-native carnivores to the UK as part of growing rewilding schemes. While the reintroduction of wolves is highly unlikely any time soon, the return of lynx is seen by some as much more achievable.
But in response to these plans, Coffey told farmers at the conference: 'I don't want farmers to constantly have to worry about these issues. We've got plenty to do with the habitats that need improving and expanding. That is why I won't be supporting reintroductions of species like lynxes and wolves. We just don’t need to and we won't.'
Conservationists, however, have pointed out that the reintroduction of wild species once found in the UK are critical for the improvement and expansion of habitats.