Proposals to reintroduce Eurasian lynx to Scotland raise welfare questions for both reintroduced animals and prey species.
Lynx reintroduction raises welfare questions for both the reintroduced animals and their prey. Translocated lynx experience capture, handling, transport, and release stress. Initial establishment in unfamiliar habitat requires hunting success to avoid starvation. Prey species killed by lynx experience acute traumatic deaths within a natural system. The welfare case for reintroduction includes reduction in vehicle collisions with roe deer that lynx predation pressure creates.