The reintroduction of wild animals to Ireland such as the lynx and wolf could help "control deer numbers," according to a leading conservationist.

The Eurasian lynx roamed Ireland for thousands of years, feeding on hares and deer in the countryside, before going extinct around 1,300 years ago.

The wolf is believed to have gone extinct in Ireland around 250 years ago, but there have been calls to reintroduce the species to certain parts of the island by former Green Party leader Eamon Ryan.

On Moncrieff today, Dr Johnny Hanson from Queen’s University said reintroducing both species could help control deer numbers.

“The main argument for reintroducing lynx and wolves is that they will control deer numbers much better than people can,” he said.

“That will have knock-on ecological benefits for all sorts of biodiversity and nature as a whole.

“Across parts of Ireland, also parts of Scotland, we have a major problem with deer.”

'No risk to people'

Dr Hanson said the reintroduction of some animals is an easier sell than others.

“Lynx is the least controversial and least complicated option; there are no risks to people from lynx,” he said.

“There are very, very minimal risks to people from wolves."

The European Wolf (Canis lupus lupus). Image: Paul Mayall Wildlife / Alamy Stock Photo

However, he said many animals pose a much greater threat than both.

“To put it into context, of all the species I’ve worked with, wild and domestic across four continents, the most dangerous and frightening experience I’ve had was with an XL bully in County Antrim,” he said.

“We should put this in context with these animals that domestic dogs are a major threat to sheep, and they can be at times a threat to humans.

“But even beyond domestic dogs, the world's most dangerous creature is you – people.”

'Not keen on the idea'

Dr Hanson said the idea of rewilding Ireland with lynx and deer is not favoured by many.

“I talked to farming leaders across Britain and Ireland, to livestock organisations and also to rewilding organisations, he said.

“The general consensus is that they're not keen on the idea.

“These things involve changes to how we farm landscapes and because there's quite a bit of financial cost and risk involved.”

The federal government in the US agreed in April to reintroduce grizzly bears to the Cascades mountain range in Washington to improve the ecosystem.

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Main image: The Eurasian lynx which went extinct in Ireland around 1,300 years ago. Image: incamerastock / Alamy Stock Photo