PLANS to reintroduce lynx to Scotland have taken a step forward after landowners north and south of the Border agreed to host the animals.

The Lynx UK Trust has applied for a licence for a trial reintroduction of Eurasian lynx to Kielder Forest, in Northumberland.

The Trust says 270 square miles of potential lynx habitat has been approved for a five-year trial involving a first release of six animals fitted with state-of-the-art GPS collars to monitor their movements.

If successful, it could lead to a wider reintroduction of the carnivorous cats in other parts of the UK, such as Argyll and Inverness-shire.

The trust has already identified an area of “suitable lynx habitat” covering over 10,000 square miles, as close as 30 miles to Glasgow, and consultation is already under way with several major landowners.

Supporters of the reintroduction of lynx say the native species would bring a range of benefits including helping to control deer through direct predation and by keeping deer herds moving through the forestry.

Analysis of similar projects in Europe suggests the animals could also help generate tens of millions of pounds in tourism.

Dr Paul O’Donoghue, chief scientific adviser for the Lynx UK Trust, said: “I think this (support from landowners) speaks volumes for the confidence in the trial reintroduction plan we’ve laid out, and the potential it has for improving the local ecosystem and expanding the local tourist economy. Literally every landowner we have approached has given permission.

“We’ve got an incredible team of ecologists, four wildlife vets and highly experienced reintroduction specialists ready to start work, with a combined 300 years of experience between them.

“This will be an exceptionally rigorous, scientifically-led reintroduction trial using cutting edge technology to monitor these cats in stunning detail.

“Everything is in place to deliver a project that will breathe life into Britain’s dying forest ecosystems.”

Dr O’Donoghue said that while the proposed release site is in Northumberland, it was a “cross-border” project that could see lynx involved in the trial cross in to Scotland.

He added: “It’s a cross-border site. Landowners on the Scottish and English sides have given access so lynx could be on Scottish soil. But we are also assessing Scottish sites in the Highlands and we see this trial as a precursor to rolling out a larger introduction in Scotland.

“There is fantastic habitat as close as 30 miles from Glasgow, from Loch Lomond and the Trossachs into the West Highlands and the Great Glen. Lynx specialise on roe deer, of which Scotland has a massive overabundance – it’s a massive larder for the lynx.”