Report from Phil Crosby
Escaped "lynx" could starve to death
Interview by Michael Douglas of West Sound Radio, 27 th November 2002
Radio piece went well - two main points were:
1. any danger to humans - I pointed out that these animals have
potential to be dangerous but only the way a large strange dog does (i.e. would you walk up to a large dog you didn't know and start patting it?). So long as treated with respect there is minimal danger, only lynx attacks have been injured, trapped animals.
2. danger to lynx - pointed out that wild lynx are very efficient
predators and would have little problem living in Scotland, but this
specimen is zoo-reared and unlikely to have hunting skills, therefore could starve quite quickly. Concerned that lynx is not hunted as a threat when in a few days it could well be recaptured by keepers with the offer of food.
Pointed out we are a group of serious
researchers who seek to share our data with the public where possible,
and are happy to help people with their understanding of these animals -
in fact one school used our website as the basis of a project on these
animals. We have over
1000 recorded sightings but we try to approach them scientifically and
work with police etc to provide expertise they don't have in a
specialist area.
Overall I tried to be the calm voice of reason, quietening peoples fears
around the lynx and making people realise the lynx is most likely in
more danger from us than the other way round.
Phil Crosby
West Sound Radio, 27 th November 2002
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