Young people hesitant around reintroduction of large carnivores like lynx and wolves - Queen’s University Belfast

Children and teenagers are cautious about the feasibility of reintroducing large carnivores, specifically lynx and wolves, to the UK and Ireland, according to the first-ever, dedicated survey of their views.

Only a minority of young people were in favour of reintroductions, according to the poll run by the ARK social-policy hub at Queen’s and Ulster universities in Northern Ireland.

The Young Life and Times survey interviewed over 2,000 16-year-olds while the Kids’ Life and Times survey polled over 4,000 children aged 10 and 11, all from Northern Ireland. Questions related to the potential reintroduction of large carnivores to parts of the UK and Ireland that might be considered ecologically suitable were included.

The study is the first-ever probe into young people’s attitudes to the reintroduction of such large predators in either the UK or Ireland. It is also the first-ever survey of any public opinion, regardless of age, on the topic on the island of Ireland.