A public consultation on reintroducing an extinct big cat to the Scottish Highlands and Moray has commenced, with nearly 90,000 households set to receive information about the proposals.
The Lynx to Scotland partnership, comprising three conservation charities, will host 42 public sessions across 21 locations beginning on January 26.
Details are being posted to homes spanning 37 postcodes in the region.
The wildcats vanished from Britain more than 500 years ago, driven to extinction by hunting and loss of habitat.
Steve Micklewright, chief executive of Trees for Life, said: "Northern Scotland can support a thriving population of lynx, but social acceptance is just as important – so, we are exploring in detail how people feel about bringing back this important missing native species."
According to conservation groups, northern Scotland contains some of Scotland's finest lynx habitat, with sufficient woodland and wild prey to sustain up to 250 of the forest-dwelling cats.
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The aphex predators pose no danger to humans and primarily hunt deer, whose numbers have surged to their highest levels in a millennium.
This population explosion has caused considerable environmental damage, preventing woodland regeneration, hampering peatland recovery and threatening Scotland's climate objectives.
Any reintroduction scheme would commence modestly, with approximately 20 lynx released gradually over several years.
Lisa Chilton, chief executive of Scotland: The Big Picture, said: "Scotland has lost more of its native wildlife than almost any other country. Reintroducing lynx could help restore balance and breathe new life into Highland and Moray landscapes, but it would be essential to do this in a considered, responsible way that addresses questions and concerns."
The Lynx to Scotland partnership will host public sessions across several locations
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The National Farmers' Union Scotland has voiced staunch opposition to the proposals, warning of serious consequences for the agricultural sector.
Duncan Macalister, the organisation's vice-president, said: "Such proposals are wholly unacceptable to farmers and crofters and pose serious risks to livestock welfare, business viability and rural communities, with unanswered questions about possible unintended wider consequences and who would ultimately bear the cost of any damage."
He added members remained "deeply concerned about the practical implications of bringing back a predator long absent from Scotland's landscapes".
First Minister John Swinney has previously stated his government would not support lynx reintroduction, telling the NFU Scotland conference last year: "My government will not be reintroducing lynx, or indeed any other large carnivorous species in Scotland."Despite the political resistance, public sentiment appears to favour the wildcats' return.
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Polling conducted by Lynx to Scotland indicates that 61 per cent of Scots support reintroduction, representing a nine-point increase over four years.
However, any formal reintroduction would require licensing from NatureScot, the Scottish Government's nature agency, which has confirmed it has not yet received an application.
The consultation follows a troubling incident last January when four lynx were captured in the Cairngorms National Park after apparently being released illegally. One of the animals died hours after being recaptured, and a police investigation remains ongoing.
Conservation groups condemned the suspected illegal release, with experts warning it had undermined legitimate rewilding efforts and damaged prospects for properly managed reintroduction schemes.
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