A High Court judge has blocked a bid to reintroduce lynx to Kielder Forest in Northumberland, ruling that the animals remain covered by dangerous animal legislation. Ms Justice Obi dismissed a challenge by the Lynx UK Trust against Natural England, stating that the proposed release could not lawfully be implemented based on the current understanding of the law, the BBC reported.
Did you know? Lynx have been extinct in the wild in the UK for centuries, with the BBC noting they vanished 800 years ago due to habitat loss and hunting.
Justice Obi rules Dangerous Wild Animals Act prohibits release
The legal dispute centered on whether the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 (DWAA) prevents the release of lynx into the wild. In a 16-page judgment, Ms Justice Obi concluded that the DWAA continues to apply to lynx as a “scheduled dangerous wild animal.”
Lawyers for the Lynx UK Trust argued that the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (WCA) should take precedence. They claimed the WCA allows authorities to license the release of animals not “ordinarily resident” in the UK, and further contended that the DWAA had been “impliedly repealed” by the later WCA. The Independent reported that the judge rejected both arguments, finding the decision by Natural England not to conduct a full assessment was “rational” and “open to it.”
Defra and Natural England refuse Kielder Forest trials
The trust has made two distinct attempts to establish a trial population in Northumberland. The first application, submitted in July 2017, proposed releasing six lynx for a five-year trial, but the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) refused the request in 2018, according to The Independent.
A second, revised proposal was submitted in 2022. This plan sought a three-year trial involving three lynx—two females and one male—brought from Sweden. Natural England refused this application later that year, citing the DWAA.
Local support contrasts with council opposition
Public opinion on the reintroduction is divided between residents and local government. A consultation conducted last year showed that 72% of respondents in the North East supported bringing the big cats back, the BBC reported.
However, the Northumberland County Council formally opposed the move in July, backing a motion against the release. Steven Bridgett, a non-aligned Rothbury councillor who proposed that motion, described the High Court’s decision as “excellent.”
Wildlife body loses lynx High Court challenge https://t.co/oAjTMphOyN
Lynx could control deer populations and improve biodiversity
Advocates for the reintroduction argue that the presence of lynx would provide ecological benefits. According to reports from the BBC and The Independent, supporters claim the cats would help control deer populations and improve overall biodiversity in the region.
Legal Context: The conflict in this case was a “clash of acts”—the trust attempted to use the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to bypass the restrictions of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976.
Common questions about the lynx High Court ruling
Why did the judge dismiss the Lynx UK Trust claim?
Ms Justice Obi ruled that the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 still applies to lynx and was not repealed or overridden by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Where were the lynx intended to be released?
The trust proposed a trial release into Kielder Forest, located in Northumberland, Northern England.
Which animals were involved in the 2022 proposal?
The revised plan involved three lynx from Sweden, specifically two females and one male, as reported by The Independent.
The ruling ensures that lynx remain absent from the British wild for a period that The Independent notes now exceeds three centuries.
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