Faye Whiley

PhD Project: Human Dimensions of Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx) Reintroduction
By the early 20th Century, large carnivores, such as the brown bear (Ursus arctos), wolf (Canis lupus), and the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), were extirpated from most of their natural range across Europe due to loss of habitat and prey, and persecution. Over the last decades, large carnivores have naturally recolonized, or large carnivore advocates have artificially reintroduced populations into, their former ranges. This is due to an increase in social tolerance, and recovery of habitat and prey populations.
Over recent years, an interest in reintroducing lynx into Britain has emerged. A large carnivore reintroduction into Britain brings much debate as people have lived without large carnivores for hundreds of years. Additionally, as an island lynx would be unable to naturally re-establish Britain and an artificial reintroduction would be required.
To date, research has reported areas of habitat suitability and prey densities to support a Eurasian lynx reintroduction into Scotland. However, an in-depth exploration of human-lynx coexistence in Britain is yet to be explored. This research takes an interdisciplinary approach and aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of the human dimensions of a Eurasian lynx reintroduction, with a focus in Scotland. 

Publications

Public acceptance of Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in Germany

Whiley, F.L. and Tzanopoulos, J. (2024). Public acceptance of Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in Germany. Journal for Nature Conservation, 77, p.126535. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnc.2023.126535 

Supervised by Dr Joseph Tzanopoulos, Dr Daniel Ingram, Professor Douglas Macmillan and Professor Robert Fish.

Funding

SeNSS Studentship