In the Scottish Highlands, locals discovered lynxes, prompting a rescue operation to capture more. The event highlights a long-standing conflict between farmers concerned about livestock safety and conservationists advocating for species reintroduction as a means of rewilding. The concept of 'rogue rewilding' has emerged, where individuals secretly introduce species into the ecosystem, driven by a desire to restore biodiversity. While the government remains hesitant to formalize reintroduction plans, illegal releases underscore the urgent need to balance ecological restoration with agricultural interests.
"I think they are done by people who are well-intentioned and who feel very passionately about the restoration of species," said Fiona Mathews, a professor of environmental biology at Sussex University.
The reaction to the lynxes' release reflects a divide that has been simmering for years between farmers and conservationists in Britain - a fight fueled by years of illegal reintroductions.
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