Lynx recovery in Europe - lessons for the UK?

Once widespread across Europe, by the middle of the last century Eurasian lynx were on the brink of extinction. This collapse in population was driven by persecution, deforestation, loss of wild prey and, in some cases, government-led eradication. However, the species managed to cling on in four small isolated populations towards the northern and eastern edges of Europe. The survival and resurgence of Eurasian lynx, to a current population of approximately 8,000 individuals across 25 countries in continental Europe, is one of conservation’s success stories. But this recovery did not happen accidentally – it came as a result of dramatic changes in wildlife policy and public attitudes that led to natural expansions in the lynx range, and the implementation of ambitious reintroduction programmes that have restored lynx to previously inhabited areas. This event provides an opportunity to hear from experts and practitioners about Eurasian lynx recovery programmes in Europe and to learn about opportunities for, and barriers against, the reintroduction of lynx in Britain, more than 500 years after the species went extinct. 

• Dr David Hetherington, Cairngorms National Park: "The Lynx and Us"
• Urs Breitenmoser, KORA and co-chair of the IUCN Cat Specialist Group: "Conservation of the Eurasian lynx in Europe"
• Dr Christine Breitenmoser-Würsten, KORA and co-chair of the IUCN Cat Specialist Group: "Long term genetic considerations for lynx reintroduction when populations remain small and isolated"
• Katherine Walsh, Natural England: "Legal and practical barriers to lynx reintroduction in Britain"

This event is chaired by Professor Sarah Durant, Institute of Zoology, ZSL.

Find out more about the event and other future events here.

• This Science and Conservation Event is free to attend and booking a ticket is required so we can monitor event numbers. Please only register for a ticket if you are planning on attending.
• The event will feature talks from several speakers, followed by a Q&A discussion panel. It will run from 6:00pm - 7:30pm, and doors will open at 5:30pm.
• Seats are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Venue: Huxley Lecture Theatre at the Meeting Rooms of the Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, NW1 4RY. See map (number 2 on the Key).
• Travel: Nearest underground: Camden Town Station; Nearest bus: no. 274.
• Recording disclaimer: The presentations and Q&A session will be filmed during this event, and the recording published on our Science and Conservation YouTube channel afterwards. Please be aware that by attending this event you consent to be filmed or your voice to be recorded during the Q&A session, which will be included in the published video.
• Covid-19: In order to protect other attendees, please do not attend this event if you have been recently diagnosed with COVID-19 or had direct contact with an individual diagnosed with or suspected to have COVID-19. Please also consider not attending if you are displaying symptoms commonly associated with COVID-19, or take a test beforehand if you are able to. If you are unable to come, please refund your ticket so we can reallocate the space to another attendee. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our events safe.

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Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Huxley Lecture Theatre, ZSL Meeting Rooms, Zoological Society of London, London, United Kingdom