Assessing the suitability of lynx and wildcat reintroduction to the UK

Hi, I’m Katherine Walsh, this website is designed to take you through my journey to Germany and Switzerland as I assess approaches to lynx and wildcat reintroduction as a 2019 Winston Churchill Fellow. Go to my video page to see my introductory Vlog.

There is widespread interest in the potential of reintroductions of top predators to restore ecosystems, however, the subject is understandably controversial. I hope that my project will enable science led, evidence based decisions to be made on how and when it may be appropriate to reintroduce lynx and wildcat to restore ecosystems and wider biodiversity whilst minimising socio-economic impacts.

Both Germany and Switzerland have a long history of lynx and wildcat reintroduction schemes and research initiatives and I aim to gather best practice knowledge across a wide variety of sectors and interests on how to implement, conduct, manage and sustain successful reintroduction projects for these species.

I’ll be visiting the Chairs of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Cat Species Specialist Group, researchers, academics, policy makers, reintroduction site managers, non-government organisations (NGO’s), environmental charities, captive breeders, local landowners, farmers, foresters and many, many, more………..

On my return to the UK, I hope to share my findings widely with government, NGO’s and those groups which have a particular interest in felid reintroduction. I hope that my findings will allow me to work towards the eventual production of reintroduction guidelines for the lynx and wildcat.