Latest news with #reintroduction
The Independent
9 hours ago
- General
- The Independent
Breakthrough in efforts to reintroduce rare bird to Kent
A young red-billed chough has successfully fledged from a nest in Kent, marking the first such event in the county for over two centuries. This milestone follows a reintroduction programme initiated three years ago by Wildwood Trust, Kent Wildlife Trust, and Paradise Park. The red-billed chough, a bird with strong cultural links to Kent, vanished from the region over 200 years ago due to habitat loss and persecution. The reintroduction efforts aim to release up to 50 birds in the South East over five years, supported by long-term chalk grassland habitat restoration. Conservationists view the successful fledging as a significant step, confirming the birds are finding suitable nesting sites.
BBC News
14 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Lynx could thrive in Northumberland, study finds
Lynx could thrive if released in Northumberland, research has found.A year-long social consultation by the Missing Lynx Project found that Northumberland is the only area in England and Wales that has enough woodland to support them and 72% of people in the region support their of only two native cat species in Britain along with the wild cat, lynx vanished 800 years ago due to hunting and loss of their woodland the team is working with locals to discuss how a potential reintroduction could be managed. While other lost or rare species such as beavers and pine martens are now staging comebacks in Britain, there are concerns about the presence of large predators, such as lynx and wolves, in a highly populated island and their risk to 20 animals released over several years into the Kielder forest area could grow over time into a healthy population of about 50 in north-west Northumberland and bordering areas of Cumbria and southern Scotland, the peer-reviewed paper than 1,000 people across Northumberland filled out questionnaires on the potential reintroduction and the consultation also included an exhibition touring the region and stakeholder meetings. The Lifescape Project charity is leading the Missing Lynx Project, in partnership with Northumberland Wildlife Trust and The Wildlife TrustsOne of the key concerns with lynx is the likelihood of them taking sheep in fields near that could be used - as they have in Europe - to reduce the risk to livestock include electric fencing, guard dogs, compensation payments and people on the ground to respond to Calvesbert, from the National Sheep Association (NSA), said she remained concerned the project did "not fully grasp the real-world implications this would have on farm businesses, livelihoods and the mental health of farmers"."Financial compensation for livestock losses, while well-intentioned, cannot replace the distress caused by the fear of predation," she Calvesbert added guard dogs and enhanced fencing are "not practical" because of the "public's legal right of access to much of our land".The NSA has urged the project to "maintain and deepen its engagement with the farming community".Dr Deborah Brady, lead ecologist for the Lifescape Project, said it expected the risk to livestock to be "reasonably low"."Even if it is low, everything matters, for every sheep taken there is an impact on that individual farmer, both an emotional impact and a financial impact."We need to work really closely and carefully with farmers to think about how we best approach it."Dr Brady said the cats posed no danger to people and there had been "no recorded fatality from lynx ever". The project took a group of local farmers to Europe to visit two lynx projects where livestock farmers live alongside the Harrison, a sheep farmer from Hadrian's Wall, went on the trip and said she was previously "quite ignorant" about lynx but had learned how it was possible to live alongside Pratt, chief executive of Northumberland Wildlife Trust, said it was right to consider bringing back the species and the lynx could provide benefits including controlling deer, managing woodland ecosystems better and providing ecotourism opportunities."The power of it is having this creature that should always have been there in these forests of the borders, where it's almost a symbol of the wildness of that area," Mr Pratt the project would consider applying for a reintroduction licence "down the line", following the positive response to the initial consultation, the focus now was on working up a plan with local people that is deliverable, he said. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
The Independent
19 hours ago
- General
- The Independent
Wild-born chough fledges and thrives in Kent for first time in 200 years
A young red-billed chough has successfully taken to the skies from a nest in the wild in Kent for the first time for more than two centuries, conservationists said. The successful fledging of the chick from a nest at Dover Castle comes just three years after the launch of a reintroduction programme led by Wildwood Trust, Kent Wildlife Trust and Paradise Park to restore the species into the region. The red-billed chough has strong cultural links with Kent and its history, appearing on pub signs, the coat of arms of Canterbury and in the legend of martyred Thomas Becket, whose blood was said to have stained the bird's red beak and legs. But the bird, a member of the crow family, vanished from the county more than 200 years ago, as a result of habitat loss and persecution, conservationists said. The rare birds, which forage on grassland and heath with short vegetation near their cliffside nests, are found only on the western fringes of Britain, the Isle of Man and the island of Ireland. A reintroduction programme to rear and release chicks aims to introduce up to 50 birds in the South East over five years, with the first cohort of released birds taking to the skies in 2022. And long-term efforts to restore and manage chalk grass land habitat, including through conservation grazing, has created the conditions for choughs to forage and breed, the team behind the project said. Chalk grassland supports a wide array of wildflowers and invertebrates, with the insects and larvae found in dung from grazing animals a crucial food source for choughs during the breeding season. Conservationists say the successful fledging of a wild-born chough is a landmark moment for the bird's return to the county. It follows a breeding attempt last year which ended when the chick went missing at the fledging stage during severe weather, but this year the youngster seems to be thriving, the team said. Liz Corry, chough release supervisor at Wildwood Trust, said: 'This is a moment we've all been hoping for. 'To see a wild chick not only hatch but fledge and take to the skies is a major step forward. 'It confirms that the birds are finding suitable nesting habitat, and pairing up to raise young – exactly what we've been working towards.' Paul Hadaway, director of conservation and engagement at Kent Wildlife Trust, said: 'This project shows what's possible when long-term habitat restoration meets ambitious species recovery. 'A thriving chough population in Kent not only revives a lost species – it also proves the value of restoring rare habitats like chalk grassland, which are vital for a huge range of wildlife.'
The Independent
20 hours ago
- Science
- The Independent
Bringing lynx back to Northumberland backed by 72% of locals, consultation finds
Lynx could thrive if released in Northumberland – and 72% of people in the region where they would roam support reintroducing the elusive cat, research has found. One of only two native cat species in Britain along with the wild cat, lynx vanished 800 years ago due to hunting and loss of their woodland habitat. While other lost or rare species such as beavers and pine martens are now staging comebacks in Britain, large predators such as lynx and wolves have proved more controversial, with concerns over their presence in a highly populated island and the risk they could pose to livestock. Conservationists say it is right to at least consider bringing back the lynx to help tackle problems caused by deer, boost woodland ecosystems and reverse declines in nature in Britain. A scientific assessment by the Missing Lynx Project has found the cats could thrive if released in Northumberland, the only area of England and Wales with enough woodland to support them. Around 20 animals released over several years into the Kielder forest area could grow over time into a healthy population of around 50 in north-west Northumberland and bordering areas of Cumbria and southern Scotland, the peer-reviewed paper found. Findings from more than 1,000 questionnaires as part of a year-long social consultation by the project, led by The Lifescape Project in partnership with Northumberland Wildlife Trust and The Wildlife Trusts, show 72% of people in the project area support a potential lynx reintroduction. The consultation also included an exhibition touring the region visited by almost 10,000 people, more than 100 stakeholder meetings and one-to-one interviews with community groups, farmers, landowners, foresters and business, and a series of workshops. The project even ran trips for farmers to Europe to see how people were living with reintroduced lynx there. Now, the team is continuing to work with locals to discuss how a potential reintroduction could be managed and is urging people across the UK to get involved with a national questionnaire. Lynx are solitary animals around the size of a slim Labrador, with distinctive tufty ears, which live in forests and woodland, and catch their prey – mainly deer, but also foxes, rabbits and hares – by ambushing them. Mike Pratt, chief executive of Northumberland Wildlife Trust, said it was right to consider bringing back the species to what should be the wildest part of England. The lynx could provide benefits including controlling deer, managing woodland ecosystems better and even providing ecotourism opportunities – though the chance of actually seeing what he describes as 'ghosts of the woodland' is very small. He said: 'The power of it is having this creature that should always have been there in these forests of the borders, where it's almost a symbol of the wildness of that area. 'It would symbolise that we're really serious, in what should be the wildest part of the country, (about) bringing nature back.' While the project would consider applying for a reintroduction licence 'down the line', following the positive response to the initial consultation, the focus now is on working up a plan with local people that is deliverable, he said. One of the key concerns with lynx is the likelihood of them taking sheep in fields adjoining woodland. Measures that could be used – as they have in Europe – to reduce the risk to livestock include electric fencing, guard dogs, compensation payments and people on the ground to respond to issues. Dr Deborah Brady, lead ecologist for the Lifescape Project, told the PA news agency: 'For this country we expect the risk to be reasonably low, but there is definitely a risk. 'Even if it is low, everything matters, for every sheep taken there is an impact on that individual farmer, both an emotional impact and a financial impact. 'We need to work really closely and carefully with farmers to think about how we best approach it.' Dr Brady is clear the cats pose no danger to people. 'They avoid people wherever they can, people rarely see them and there has been no recorded fatality from lynx ever, so they are no danger to adults or children, they are no danger to people,' she said. While she said their return is not going to be the 'silver bullet' to the problem of an overlarge deer population, as each lynx only kills one deer a week, the presence of a predator helps keeps herds moving and reduces overgrazing. Bringing back a native species such as the lynx can help rebuild ecosystems and start to 'turn the tide' on wildlife loss in the UK, one of the world's most nature-depleted countries, she said. Lauren Harrison, a sheep farmer on Hadrian's Wall, said she was excited but 'quite ignorant' about lynx before she visited the Missing Lynx exhibition. 'I was very excited and very positive, but I had concerns for the livestock,' she said. She has since gone on a visit with other farmers to Switzerland and Germany where she saw it was possible to live alongside the animals. Her land is sufficiently far from woodland not to be affected, but she said for farmers facing the small risk of losing sheep 'that needs to be managed, needs to be done in a way that's fair to farmers, that's practical, and doesn't get in the way of day-to-day life'. She urged other farmers in the area to get involved with the project. Alongside the practical benefits of bringing back lynx, there is an emotional value to returning the animals to Northumberland, she believes. 'It's a slightly forgotten-about area around here, we are a long way from Westminster and financial centres. 'Just to be the place that has this stunning creature coming back, I think it would give such a lift to know that's on our doorstep,' she said. To take part in the national survey on reintroducing lynx, people can visit:
The Independent
a day ago
- General
- The Independent
Wild-born chick takes to the skies for the first time in two centuries
A young red-billed chough has successfully taken flight from a nest in Kent, marking the first such event in over two centuries, conservationists have announced. The successful fledging of the chick at Dover Castle comes just three years after a reintroduction programme, led by Wildwood Trust, Kent Wildlife Trust and Paradise Park, began to restore the species into the region. The red-billed chough has strong cultural links with Kent and its history, appearing on pub signs, Canterbury 's coat of arms and in the legend of martyred Thomas Becket, whose blood was said to have stained the bird's red beak and legs. But the bird, a member of the crow family, vanished from the county more than 200 years ago, as a result of habitat loss and persecution. The rare birds, which forage on grassland and heath with short vegetation near their cliffside nests, are found only on the western fringes of Britain, the Isle of Man and the island of Ireland. A reintroduction programme to rear and release chicks aims to introduce up to 50 birds in the South East over five years, with the first cohort of released birds taking to the skies in 2022. And long-term efforts to restore and manage chalk grassland habitat, including through conservation grazing, have created the conditions for choughs to forage and breed, the team behind the project said. Chalk grassland supports a wide array of wildflowers and invertebrates, with the insects and larvae found in dung from grazing animals a crucial food source for choughs during the breeding season. Conservationists say the successful fledging of a wild-born chough is a landmark moment for the bird's return to the county. It follows a breeding attempt last year, which ended when the chick went missing at the fledging stage during severe weather, but this year the youngster seems to be thriving, the team said. Liz Corry, chough release supervisor at Wildwood Trust, said: 'This is a moment we've all been hoping for. 'To see a wild chick not only hatch but fledge and take to the skies is a major step forward. 'It confirms that the birds are finding suitable nesting habitat, and pairing up to raise young – exactly what we've been working towards.' Paul Hadaway, director of conservation and engagement at Kent Wildlife Trust, said: 'This project shows what's possible when long-term habitat restoration meets ambitious species recovery. 'A thriving chough population in Kent not only revives a lost species – it also proves the value of restoring rare habitats like chalk grassland, which are vital for a huge range of wildlife.'
