Wednesday 15th January 2020

I chat with Dr Manuela von Arx about public engagement schemes which involve large predators. Although, the project that Manuela is working on currently involves the wolf, many ways of working can be applied to the lynx.

Project Wolf began three years ago. The project was triggered by wolves arriving in villages seemingly unafraid of humans, which scared the local public.

Game wardens, cantonal mayors and the federal office for the environment set standards for who should be responsible for communicating with hunting groups and members of the local public on wolf related issues.

Working groups have been established that include, KORA, Agridea, federal cantons, hunters, WWF, NGO’s, sheep and goat farmers, the tourism industry etc to discuss issues. Every year a site visit takes place either to a site where wolf management was successful or not to see what lessons can be learnt.

Annual reports are produced, which provide information on lynx and bears if an issue is reported. A variety of fact sheets have been prepared.

Such schemes were never established in Switzerland for the lynx as the original reintroduction’s were clandestine/illegal releases in the late 1960’s – early 1970’s. Fortunately, only a very small number of people are against the lynx now, this could have been prevented if sufficient public engagement had happened in the past. Such, reintroduction schemes would certainly not take place now without considerable public engagement.

An EU Platform on the Co-existence between People and Large Carnivores now exists which funds the establishment of regional platforms and provides case study examples on its website.

I spend the evening in further discussion with Urs, so much to learn, so little time! I could spend many years researching both lynx and wildcat. As with all species every day is a school day, it’s a constant learning exercise.