Assessing the suitability of lynx/wildcat reintroduction to the UK
By Katherine Walsh, 2021
Fellow’s Profile
Fellow’s Profile
Assessing the suitability of lynx and wildcat reintroduction to the UK
Designing practical guidelines for the reintroduction of lynx and wildcats to the UK
2019
North West
I am a senior environmental specialist for terrestrial mammals at Natural England, the government's adviser for the natural environment in England. I have been working in the environmental sector for 20 years, spending time in the private, governmental, charitable and voluntary sectors both in the UK and abroad.
The aim of my Fellowship was to gather and review best-practice knowledge from the two countries at the forefront of Eurasian lynx and European wildcat reintroductions, Germany and Switzerland, to assess the suitability of reintroducing the species to the UK.
There is widespread and growing interest in the media, from interest groups, non-governmental organisations and the scientific community in the reintroduction of formerly native predators to the UK. However, there had been no review or a clear set of guidelines defining the anthropogenic and ecological circumstances under which it would be appropriate to reintroduce these species to the UK. My Fellowship set out to work towards filling this evidence gap.
I am currently writing scientific papers which set out the key considerations for reintroducing both species into the UK.
Senior Environmental Specialist (Mammals) Katherine Walsh (CF 2019), spoke at an event for ZSL, an international conservation society on 6 June, entitled 'Lynx Recovering in Europe - Lessons for the UK'. You can see a recording of the event on Youtube.
By Katherine Walsh, 2023
By Katherine Walsh, 2020
All Reports are copyright © the author. The moral right of the author has been asserted. The views and opinions expressed by any Fellow are those of the Fellow and not of the Churchill Fellowship or its partners, which have no responsibility or liability for any part of them.
Senior Environmental Specialist (Mammals) Katherine Walsh (CF 2019), spoke at an event for ZSL, an international conservation society on 6 June, entitled 'Lynx Recovering in Europe - Lessons for the UK'. You can see a recording of the event on Youtube.
By Katherine Walsh, 2023
By Katherine Walsh, 2020
All Reports are copyright © the author. The moral right of the author has been asserted. The views and opinions expressed by any Fellow are those of the Fellow and not of the Churchill Fellowship or its partners, which have no responsibility or liability for any part of them.