Kielder Forest considered as site for return of wild lynx to the UK after 1,300 year absence

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Wild lynx are to be reintroduced into Britain for the first time in 1,300 years – and a forest full of deer in Northumberland is being considered as their new habitat.

Proposals to re-introduce the big cats into private estates in Aberdeenshire, Cumbria and Norfolk are being led by the Lynx UK Trust.

The Trust is now considering Kielder Forest, in Northumberland, as another site, according to the BBC. The area has a large deer population which would provide a source of prey for the lynx.

However, sheep farmers have raised concerns that the animals could attack sheep in the area. The Lynx UK Trust will hold a public consultation over the proposals before formally applying with Natural England and Scottish Natural Heritage.

Chief scientific specialist Dr Paul O'Donoghue, of the Lynx Trust, said: "These are beautiful cats which will fit beautifully into the UK environment.

"They're extremely shy animals which have never attacked a human anywhere they live, and everywhere they live their preferred prey is deer which we have a serious overpopulation issue with in the UK."