It has been 1,300 years since a lynx last stepped foot on British soil. With deer numbers on the rise, the big cat may soon see the countryside once again.
As a measure to curb deer numbers in order to allow farming and forestry to flourish, the reintroduction of lynx to the countryside of Britain is currently a topic being debated.
A survey conducted earlier this year by the UK Lynx trust saw an overwhelming 91 percent of the public behind the planned move.
Consultations are currently taking place with farmers and landowners for the rest of this year, with smaller and more detailed local discussions planned for early 2016.
According to independent research, reintroducing the wild cat to the United Kingdom would pose no threat to humans or pets, while it would provide a number of benefits to the countryside.
If reintroduced, the animals would be released throughout the country, including sites in Aberdeenshire, Argyll, Cumbria, Norfolk and Northumberland.