Posted on 11/30/2007 1:31:03 PM PST by Daniel Bliss
Bringing back animals which were hunted to extinction in Britain - including the wolf, lynx, beaver and wild boar - would not be difficult, according to a new report.
The animals could be brought back to live free in the wild without posing any great threat to people, crops or the environment, it is claimed.
A report from the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit at Oxford University (WCRU) said while further work needed to be done on their impact, there was no obvious reason to block their return.
The animals roaming free in remote areas would enhance the natural environment and as a bonus they could form the basis of a multi-million pound tourist industry.
Wildlife tourism in the UK is thriving particularly in Scotland where the reintroduction of the osprey attracted on average 33,600 visitors between 1998 and 2001 while the Red Kite Centre, Wales attracted 33,350 visitors in 2004.
The possibility of the animals' return is raised in the State of Britain's Mammals report for 2007 Mammals Trust UK, which looks at the challenges wildlife will face in the 21st century.
Professor David Macdonald and Dr Dawn Burnham, from the WCRU identified a range of factors including climate change, the spread of infectious diseases, agricultural and forestry practices, and human activity which will all combine to put increasing pressure on the UK's fragile wildlife populations.
Earlier this year the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP), added 16 new habitats, 8 terrestrial mammals and the common seal to the UK's Priority List of Species and Habitats.
The report says that wild boar are already living free and breeding rapidly across several south-eastern countries after escaping from farms.
They were a potential threat to people and dogs and caused damage to crops and through rooting to wild flowers, particularly bluebells, and trees.
But they also played an important role as ecosystem engineers increasing habitat diversity and in places they were regarded as an asset because they provided sport and meat to the hunting sector.
Similarly beaver had also escaped into the wild and one was living quite happily near Oxford. Even in the worst case scenario, where beavers caused damage to trees, the cost would only be tens of thousands of pounds while at best the costs would be negligible.
But their presence would contribute to wetland creation helping with consequent water purification and they were useful in flood retention.
"The end result appears to be a very healthy balance sheet in favour of reintroducing the beaver," the report says.
Studies surrounding the reintroduction of the wolf to Scotland, where it was hunted to extinction in the 18th century, found that highland farmers were the most likely to be affected because they would lose livestock.
But they were not absolutely opposed to the wolf's return as it was 'restoring the balance of nature and preserving Scotland's heritage'.
They recognised the value of wildlife tourism and knew they would be compensated if they lost sheep to predation.
The studies had found that 1,000 square kilometres could support 25 wolves and that they would keep down deer populations and save the expensive cost of regular culls in Caledonian pine forests.
The lynx had disappeared during medieval times because of deforestation, declining deer populations and persecution but all these had now been reversed. The EU Habitats Directive had also stated that the European lynx should be considered for reintroduction.
Studies by Aberdeen University had identified two areas in Scotland which would provide suitable habitat for lynx. It had been estimated that current deer populations could support 400 lynx in the Highlands and 50 in the southern Uplands.
The report identifies the brown hare, mountain hare, red squirrel, hedgehog, harvest mouse, scottish wildcat and grey seal as all being threatened British mammals whose populations were in decline.
One high point has been the recovery of the otter which had suffered severe decline in the latter half of the 20th century because of pollution. But the clean up of rivers had resulted in the otter's recovery and continued expansion.
They were a potential threat to people and dogs and caused damage to crops and through rooting to wild flowers, particularly bluebells, and trees.
[clear throat]...
If the Brits want to get rid of them... bring in the Montagnards for food's sake... SouthEast Asians will pay anyone for their meat.
What Would Jamal Do?
Freakout and Declare Fatwa!
You can own a .50 calibre rifle. However, at my rifle club, I was told that you need a valid firearms cert with a 50 cal entry on it even to fire someone else’s!
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