In a world where we humans preach (and start wars) for equality, we rarely offer the same privilege to others we deem “less worthy”. Recently, there’s been debate over the reintroduction of lynxes into Scotland and Britain and the comments made by First Minister John Swinney.
But, let’s start from the beginning. Last January, four lynxes were set loose (and captured) in the Cairngorms National Park. Authorities still have no clue who set them loose and how they came to the area. A BBC report mentions the ongoing police investigation but current stories suggest that these four cats may have been illegally bought and dumped pets.
This comes at a bad time, as stated by Peter Cairns, executive director of Scotland, who said: “The Lynx to Scotland Project is working to secure the return of lynx to the Scottish Highlands, and this illegal and grossly irresponsible act comes at the worst possible time, when stakeholders are engaging in good faith with productive discussions about the potential for a fully resourced legal reintroduction.”
First Minister Swinney chimed in, stating that the government will not support any legal reintroduction of the lynx into the wild in Scotland. His concerns stem from the potential risks associated with reintroducing large carnivores, particularly in rural areas where farmers and landowners fear negative consequences, such as possibly being attacked or having livestock killed.
Yet, this stance raises a deeper question: Who truly has a claim to the land—humans who have reshaped it to suit their needs or the wildlife that once thrived there before being driven out by human expansion?
Predators and politics
Lynxes were once native to Britain and Scotland but were hunted to extinction and lost their habitat due to human encroachment. Their absence had significant ecological consequences, particularly in the unchecked growth of deer populations. Without natural predators, deer overgraze forests, preventing trees from regenerating. As you can imagine this has a significant impact on the ecosystem. The return of the lynx to the wild could help restore this balance by naturally controlling deer numbers, leading to healthier woodlands, increased biodiversity, and a more resilient environment.
This ecological role of apex predators is well documented across the world. Predators are not simply a threat to livestock, as some opponents argue, but essential components of thriving ecosystems. In Yellowstone National Park, for example, the reintroduction of wolves led to a trophic cascade, positively affecting multiple species and even altering the landscape. Similar success stories have been observed in European countries such as Germany and Switzerland, where lynxes have been reintroduced with careful monitoring and management.
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a global framework for environmental sustainability, and the reintroduction of lynxes aligns strongly with Goal 15: Life on Land. This goal emphasizes the need to protect, restore, and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. Rewilding efforts, including the return of apex predators, support this objective by fostering biodiversity and improving ecosystem resilience. Additionally, SDG 13: Climate Action, is relevant, as healthier ecosystems play a vital role in carbon sequestration and climate mitigation.
And yet we all know that life is never as simple as that.
Balancing progress and nature
Credit: Markuss Piske-Pexels
I will be the first to admit that I am a city girl. As much as I love nature, I love the comfort of electricity and technology. But why must all debates on conservation efforts always rely on an “either-or” situation? Perhaps I am naïve and have taken a laissez-faire attitude to this topic, but I have always strongly objected to extremes, even when it comes to the question of, “Who has more ‘right’ to Earth? Humans or animals?”
Despite the ecological and conservationist arguments in favor of lynx reintroduction in Scotland, Swinney and other critics highlight the potential risks, including livestock predation and unintended ecological disruptions. Past rewilding efforts in Scotland, such as the return of the white-tailed sea eagle, have faced similar concerns, with some farmers reporting livestock losses. However, these issues can be mitigated through compensation schemes, robust monitoring programs, and stakeholder engagement. In countries where lynxes have been successfully reintroduced, collaboration between conservationists, farmers, and policymakers has played a crucial role in minimizing conflicts.
Another dimension of this debate is the recent illegal release of four lynxes in the Cairngorms, which Swinney condemned as “reckless.” While such actions may reflect the frustration of conservationists who feel stymied by political resistance, unauthorized releases undermine the credibility of the broader rewilding movement. Conservation efforts must be conducted through legal and scientifically informed frameworks, ensuring that all parties are involved in decision-making processes.
Who runs the world?
Allow me to clarify that I do understand the arguments brought forth by Swinney and others. I also do not consider humans to be “parasites” that need to be culled, as you may hear in certain conspiracy theories. However, this topic does raise the philosophical question of “Who runs the world?”
If we view the Earth as a shared home rather than a resource solely for human exploitation, then conservation efforts, including predator reintroductions, become an ethical imperative rather than a mere option. The lynx lived in Britain long before humans reshaped the landscape, and its return is not about turning back time but about restoring equilibrium.
While human progress cannot and should not be halted, it must be guided by a commitment to coexistence. In our quest to strengthen “humanity”, we must first question what that word means and presupposes – and whether that means disregarding the rights of animals, creatures, and beings that do not reach that standard. Is modernization inherently linked to destruction? Is humanity our excuse to remove animals from this planet?
The modern world demands a balance between economic development, agricultural interests, and ecological integrity. The reintroduction of lynxes represents a step toward that balance—one that acknowledges our responsibility to the planet and all its inhabitants. Scotland has the opportunity to lead in sustainable conservation by embracing rewilding as a means to restore nature, rather than dismissing it outright due to fear of change.
Main photo credit: Karina Badura-Pexels
