Toryn Whitehead

Why are debates on lynx and wolf reintroductions so polarised?

Find out from @torynwhead.bsky.social and WildCRU's Darragh Hare why discussions about bringing back large carnivores can be characterised by myths and wishful thinking.

👉https://bit.ly/4iI2s9D

@biology.ox.ac.uk

In Scotland, efforts to introduce species that have been absent for hundreds of years have led to conflict and two major schools of thought: romantic and cynical.

What are the causes and drivers of these debates?

Find out from @torynwhead.bsky.social and Darragh Hare.

👉 tinyurl.com/mrx9zsae

We argue that the lynx and wolf have been culturally transformed to be romanticised and vilified in Scotland. This cultural transformation is caused by:

🔬 A lack of precise knowledge about the impact of large carnivores
🕵‍♂️ A lack of pluralistic historical knowledge
🦤 The extinction of experience

A shifting baseline theory of debates over potential lynx and wolf reintroductions to Scotland - Ambio In Scotland, efforts to reintroduce extirpated species have been marred by guerrilla rewilding and social conflicts. We ask whether these conflicts could at least in part be the product of shifting ba...

🚨 New paper! 🚨

The #lynx and #wolf have been extinct in #Scotland for over 400 years. Could divisions over their #reintroduction, linked to #rewilding, be in part the product of shifting baseline syndrome? 🐺

Check out this new paper to find out 👇

link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Check out this new article on WILD #beavers in England and make sure you tune in at 11:05am to hear @nataliegreenpeer.bsky.social ask an oral question to the government on this very topic 🦫🔎

parliamentlive.tv/Lords

Today in #HouseofLords 11.05am have an Oral Question on licencing WILD beaver releases

@beavertrust.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social #biodiversity
parliamentlive.tv/Lords

Today at #COP16, discussions on how to realise the #KunmingMontrealGBF are resumed. The framework recognises the stewardship of "Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities". But, "Who is local, and what do they know?" 👉https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pan3.10797 @ipbes.net #CBD

Thanks! :)

If you were thinking of getting my book but just needed that little extra nudge, Waterstones is doing 25% off pre-orders at the moment!

"Without patience, empathy, and dialogue to co-produce a reintroduction plan and coexistence strategies, any legal reintroduction of lynx is doomed to fail – let alone an illegal release."

@georgeholmes.bsky.social @vincentwt.bsky.social @hannalp.bsky.social @chantallyons.bsky.social

While of course it is unrealistic to convince everyone, my gut instinct is that the focus of the rewilding community should be on building trust and dialogue with those communities that currently oppose the reintroduction or are uncertain 🤝

61% is significant, but what's not clear is the geographic distribution of respondents. As proven by the reintroduction of #wolves in Colorado, reintroducing predators without the support of those who will live alongside the animals and carry the burdens of coexistence is deeply problematic 🐺🐑⚖️

Since I wrote this in mid-January the debate has shifted. John Swinney has ruled out any legal #reintroduction of lynx or other large carnivores. In response, the Lynx to Scotland partnership have published a survey which shows that 61% of respondents support the return of lynx and 13% oppose it.

Illegal reintroductions of lynx are irresponsible and the wrong path forward for rewilding in Scotland - Ambio In January 2025 four Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) were illegally released into the Cairngorms National Park in the Scottish Highlands. All four animals were subsequently captured but unfortunately one ly...

Chuffed to be able to share the first publication from my PhD! Illegal reintroductions of #lynx are irresponsible and the wrong path forward for #rewilding in #Scotland

link.springer.com/article/10.1...