The Missing Lynx Project - National individual questionnaire

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Lynx are cats, similar to the size of a slim Labrador dog, with distinctive tufted ears and a short tail. They are native to Britain and lived here for thousands of years. As human impacts increased, many animals and plants began to decline and, along with many other species, we lost lynx from our landscapes.  By the middle of the 20th century lynx had also been lost from much of Europe. Lynx reintroductions in Europe began in Germany and Switzerland in the 1970s. During the subsequent 50 years reintroduction projects helped re-establish populations of lynx in most European countries. The success of these reintroductions offers a blueprint for a potential reintroduction of lynx in Britain.

The Missing Lynx Project is a partnership between The Lifescape Project, Northumberland Wildlife Trust and the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts. It aims to provide a range of opportunities to listen to and explore people’s thoughts and opinions around bringing lynx back. 

Our research has shown that lynx released into Northumberland could grow into a healthy population. The habitat patch where lynx would be predicted to live covers north-west Northumberland, the edge of Cumbria and into the bordering areas of southern Scotland. Over a 14-month period, the project shared these results with interest groups and communities local to this area and listened to people’s opinions through a range of opportunities including via questionnaires and through interviews, workshops and focus groups. The project is working with people in the region to discuss how a potential reintroduction could be managed if it were to progress further.

Please find out more and have your say!

PARTICIPANT INFORMATION

This questionnaire is being distributed for the purpose of The Missing Lynx Project’s engagement and consultation with the general public. This questionnaire will help us to understand the level of support for a potential lynx reintroduction into Britain at a national level. 

We are looking for people living in the United Kingdom to complete this questionnaire and would like to invite you to take part. Individuals who are 15 years of age and younger should not complete this questionnaire unless they have parental consent, and guidance is given for children between the ages of 8 – 15 years old. 

This questionnaire has three main sections and should take approximately 15 minutes to complete. It involves 18 questions on information about yourself, your knowledge of lynx, and lynx reintroduction in Britain.

Participation in this study is voluntary and you can stop filling in the questionnaire at any time by clicking the ‘x’ button in the top right-hand corner of the screen and your data will not be collected.

Your answers to the completed questionnaire will remain anonymous. The data collected will be used to investigate the level of support for a potential lynx reintroduction.  Please note it will not be possible to withdraw your submission after submitting your completed questionnaire as all data stored is anonymous. Data is stored in line with data storage security guidance. This research was approved by The Lifescape Project’s Research and Ethics committee (Reference LPREC25/03/24). There are no foreseeable risks or disadvantages to participating in this questionnaire. The benefits are to assist in understanding whether a lynx reintroduction into Britain is something people would like to see.

If you would like a copy of this information, for answers to questions regarding a particular matter about the questionnaire, participants’ rights, or to register a complaint, please contact: info@missinglynxproject.org.uk