Moves to return lynx to the British countryside have been brought forward with the creation of a new rewilding habitat.
Wildwood Trust – a British conservation charity known for releasing bison into the wild in the UK – is creating an area for the big cats to live and possibly breed.
They hope the new space will help shift public perception and build momentum for lynx to return to the wild.
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Work has begun on the new enclosure.
It will support future breeding programmes if reintroduction plans are given the green light.
The move comes just months after three lynx were illegally released in the Scottish Highlands, reigniting public debate about the species’ return.
The lynx is the subject of ongoing reintroduction suggestions in the UK, as reported by What’s The Jam.
Proposed locations include the Scottish Highlands and Kielder Forest in Northumberland.
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The idea has met opposition from sheep farmers, citing threats the lynx would pose to their flocks.
But Wildwood hopes the new space at its wildlife park near Canterbury, Kent, will help shift public perception and build momentum for a future return to the wild.
Mark Habben, Wildwood’s Head of Zoo Operations, said: “Our ambition is to breed lynx in the future so this facility will be able to accommodate that, but as much as anything, this is about creating a really exciting habitat and showcasing the species to the public.
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“With this exhibit and the viewing platform, we’ll be able to provide high-level viewing of this iconic animal, which we believe as an organisation should be back in the British countryside.
“Lynx form an exciting part of our ecosystems and our future, and we hope this new enclosure can help dispel misleading assumptions about this native species.”
The new habitat will be surrounded by 300 metres of external fencing, with a raised walkway allowing visitors to view the lynx from multiple angles.
It will also become the new home for Flossie and Torridon – the park’s long-standing lynx residents – who are currently enjoying an extended stay at Dartmoor Zoo while the build is underway.
Sally Holt, Head of Carnivores and Small Mammals at Wildwood, said: “We are very grateful to Dartmoor Zoo for providing a temporary home for our lynx while we construct their significantly larger and more complex habitat.
“This new facility will feature mature trees for climbing and exploration, as well as expansive platforms and diverse branching for roaming.
“We made significant progress in crate-training Flossie and Torridon to make sure their transfer to Dartmoor was seamless.
“We greatly value this opportunity to work alongside the Dartmoor team, sharing valuable insights and best practices in the training, welfare and husbandry of European lynx.”
Flossie and Torridon are due to return in time for the summer holidays, when the first phase – including the main paddock and indoor areas – will be complete.
The high-level walkway, running alongside the wolf enclosure, is set to open later in the year.
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