As the Lynx UK Trust await feedback on their application to stage a trial reintroduction of lynx into the Kielder Forest region on the scottish border, they have announced an agreement with Lloyds of London who will insure all sheep, pets and humans in the country against lynx attacks.
Two months ago the Lynx UK Trust wound up two years of public consultations and submitted an application to Natural England to stage a trial reintroduction of six lynx into the Kielder Forest region, spanning the border between England and Scotland. Whilst everyone waits on the decision, the debate has continued on reintroduction, polarised between widespread general public support and concerns from the farming industry over the threat to sheep.
The Trust has already produced comprehensive scientific data from across Europe that clearly proves lynx have a negligible impact on sheep populations. It has also promised above market rate compensation for any attacks that do occur, grants for farmers to improve sheep welfare and research into reducing sheep predation by all species. However despite these offerings, farming unions remaining staunchly opposed to any reintroduction.
This week the Trust have announced an agreement reached with a specialist division of Lloyds of London; Lloyds Syndicate ARK Speciality Programs, which will insure the entire sheep population against lynx attacks throughout the period of a trial if it goes ahead. The cover also extends to attacks on pets and humans.
“Some farmers have suggested it will be impossible to fund a compensation program, even though in reality such funds rarely cost more than 1000 euros a year on the continent.” Comments Dr Paul O’Donoghue, Chief Scientific Advisor for the Trust, “This will hopefully give them a great deal of confidence if the largest insurance market in the world is offering to cover any kind of attacks on livestock by lynx during a trial.”
The insurance was proposed by Richard Bryant, Head of ARK Speciality who has a keen interest in lynx reintroduction and wanted to support the possibility of a trial going ahead;
“We’re excited and privileged to be working in partnership with the Lynx UK Trust to successfully reintroduce the lynx, and I hope this insurance cover will provide sound financial security for the Trust so they will be able to generously compensate farmers if any of their sheep are injured or killed.
“Having assessed all the science and research on lynx predation we’re very confident that sheep attacks will be rare, so if our support can help make a trial reintroduction practical it’s a great opportunity for us to do something really positive. I believe this is the first time insurance has been used to assist a reintroduction project in the UK so we’re very excited about it.”
If Natural England approve the Trust’s application six lynx will be reintroduced for a five year period and closely monitored with satellite tracking and other tools to see how they fit back into the UK ecosystem, where they could become a critical and much missed natural control on our overpopulated deer species.
“The extensive cover provided by Lloyds of London is a massive game changer in our campaign to bring lynx back to the UK where they rightly belong,” says O’Donoghue, “I honestly now find it very hard to see any reason why we shouldn’t get a license from Natural England; there can be no question that compensation is now affordable and we still stand by our promises for farmer’s grants and anti-predation studies, we can make this work for everyone.”
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