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.
I wonder if the Scottish highland farmers will be less keen about 'restoring the balance of nature and preserving Scotland's heritage' after the wolves have become established.
And while we’re at it, bring the snakes back to Ireland as well.
Let’s re-introduce Yellow Fever and Malaria to the civilized world while we’re at it. After all, those are animals, too!......
As the quote atrributed to Cherton goes, the problem with atheism is not that people believe in nothing, but that they're ready to believe anything.
Cherton: Chesterton
There never were snakes in Ireland in Historic Times.
The glaciers wiped them out.
They introduced wolves to the Pacific Northwest, where in some sections they wiped out local deer.
THEN, since they still had to EAT, they started moving closer to towns and taking pets.
And, since they do tend to have offspring, they INCREASE in numbers, so that now in some areas they move in PACKS.
How long before a child is taken from some farm? An attack by a PACK of wolves is unstoppable until you are toting
a semi-automatic at all times.
And even then—with one wolf going for each limb, and another for your throat, and two more coming from behind—
you still may not make it.
Yeah, re-introduce the wolves...
If they do reintroduce wolves and wild boar to the UK then they better be prepared to relax the gun control laws a bit.
If I’m camping out in the Scottish countryside unarmed, the last thing I need is a pack of wolves turning up outside my tent!
OK, we can still own crossbows here, but a single-shot weapon would be useless against a pack...
I wish someone would introduce some predators into Phoenix. Pigeons have absolutely taken over in some areas.
in places they were regarded as an asset because they provided sport and meat to the hunting sector.
I thought the Brits hated hunting, hence the outlawing of foxhunting ?
The ones responsible for such insanity should be willing to have their names posted on the internet and agree that the first wolf to attack mankind, the persons listed on the internet should be open game and agree that any number killed should be acceptable. Such stupidity should have real consequences
That will keep the population of wild chickens under control.
They are working on, like they have been successful in reintroducing TB in America.
Only foxhunting with hounds was banned (mainly for political reasons).
However, hunting foxes with rifles and powerful lights at night (lamping) is still perfectly legal.
Does anyone have firearms there anymore?
Nah. Just use a very long bolt, remember to maneuver for position and voila! Wolf-kebabs.
I believe pigeons are really "rock doves" that like to roost on cliff sides. Or on tall buildings, for a quick substitute.
BTB, pigeons carry a pretty nasty respiratory disease.
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