We take a look at some of the animals Britain has lost – although a couple could be making a reappearance soon…
As the last ice age came to an end 10,000-12,000 years ago, Britain’s landscape changed and many large terrestrial mammals died out. But a few, like the lynx, wolf and bear survived, only for us to drive them extinct relatively recently.
5 of Britain’s lost beasts
Elk/moose
- Extinct in UK 1915 BC
Last known British specimen, dated to 1915 BC, was found at the River Cree, Scotland. but the species may have survived in remote areas into Roman times.
Brown bear
- Extinct in UK AD 500
Brown bears were found in England until at least late Roman times.
It appears in ninth-century Pictish carvings, so may have survived longer in Scotland.
Grey wolf
- Extinct in UK by 1700
Vanished from England in the late 13th century: in Scotland, contemporary writers declared & extinct in 1680-1700 (records of a wolf killed in 1743 are now thought doubtful)
Wolf vs dog: what’s the difference between man’s best friend and its wild cousin?
Rewilding wolves: what can Sweden teach us about living with big predators?
Aurochs/wild ox
- Extinct in UK 1235 BC
Last known UK specimen was dated to 1235 BC, but Julius Caesar mentioned that he was frightened of the species, so it may have survived here until the Roman era. It finally died out in Europe in the 17th century.
Eurasian lynx
- Extinct in UK AD 450
Last known specimen was dated to AD 450, but cultural evidence points to a medieval extinction. However there are calls for lynx to be reintroduced to UK – so they may come back…
Like this? Read about other animals that are extinct in Britain
Apex predators: What they are, why they’re important and how apex predators affect ecosystems
What do farmers think of ‘rewilding’?
Adam Henson: Rewilding plans need careful consideration to strike the right balance
Getty images