Wolves

Soosin,

There was an interesting programme on television about three weeks ago about a landowner in the highlands that is trying to introduce wolves and other animals to create something of a nature park.

As you have said he has met opposition from some neighbouring land owners but others are giving the project their backing. Lets hope he gets it going.

Graham

Being as wolves are by far my favourite animals, I would LOVE to see them back where they belong! It is controversial and I realise that many people oppose it, but being as they were in Britain for a long time before humans eradicated them it only seems right that they should be reintroduced!

Graham - is that the chap that owned MFI? I watched a couple of programs about him bringing moose over from Norway I think and he has also got wild boar, but as you say, has hit a bit of a brick wall with the carnivors he wants to bring in (lynx, wolves & bears). As MFI have gone bust I don't know if he will still be in a position to realise his dream...

What surprised me watching his programmes was the backlash from Ramblers spouting the right to roam, Personally, I would be delighted to ramble in the hills and forest and MAYBE come across a wolf, to hear them howling never mind see them would be superb.  Maybe, being the operative word, as they would quickly skulk away from us.

I understand the landowners and gamekeepers trepidations as far as livestock is concerned BUT.

Anyway theres a good website Tooth and Claw: Understanding Predators, Understanding ourselves, worth a read as is work by Ian Rowlands

Here in Kent we have Wildwood Wildlife Centre where they aim to bring back to this country all the animals that are now no longer roaming, from the large to small insects, it is set in woods and they have Wolves, Wild Boar, Wild horses which I think came from Hungry as they are the nearest to our own, and even a Lynx. Wild boar are already roaming Kent and Sussex the framers are not too happy as they love to root up the crops. Eventually they would like to release animals back into our countryside and have done with the horses and beavers. It is worth a visit anytime visiting this area, they have birds too that are becoming extinct. Meerkat

Rockwolf said:

Being as wolves are by far my favourite animals, I would LOVE to see them back where they belong! It is controversial and I realise that many people oppose it, but being as they were in Britain for a long time before humans eradicated them it only seems right that they should be reintroduced!

Graham - is that the chap that owned MFI? I watched a couple of programs about him bringing moose over from Norway I think and he has also got wild boar, but as you say, has hit a bit of a brick wall with the carnivors he wants to bring in (lynx, wolves & bears). As MFI have gone bust I don't know if he will still be in a position to realise his dream...

Hi,

Yes I think as you have said he is the chap that owned MFI and believe me Marjus he would still have the finances to go ahead with the programme. Lets hope that he does.

Graham

Yvonne R said:

Here in Kent we have Wildwood Wildlife Centre where they aim to bring back to this country all the animals that are now no longer roaming, from the large to small insects, it is set in woods and they have Wolves, Wild Boar, Wild horses which I think came from Hungry as they are the nearest to our own, and even a Lynx. Wild boar are already roaming Kent and Sussex the framers are not too happy as they love to root up the crops. Eventually they would like to release animals back into our countryside and have done with the horses and beavers. It is worth a visit anytime visiting this area, they have birds too that are becoming extinct. Meerkat

Hi Meerkat,    I too live nearish to wildwood and have visited the place on many occasions, I think that the work they are doing there is superb, my main concern is where does it all stop? does it need to stop? is the MFI heir crazy or a visionary, I personally wish them all the success in the world - but sometimes you can see what the dissenters are saying, howver - having said that - the right to roam mob sometimes leave me cold - as if nothing else in the world matters just as long as they can tramp wholesale across anybodies land - most of them have their eyes glued to the ground taking not a speck of interest of what is going on around them - it's almost like they are driven.

I just don't understand that we need to roam everywhere, landowners do P""""s me off sometimes,(long ago it belonged to all of us, but thats for another time) ,  but I also think that some places should be left to be wild and free from humans.  I remember the spring, following foot n mouth when the countryside had been 'closed',  the countryside seemed alive with wildlife -  hares in numbers I was astonished by and butterflies and moths and wild flowers.  Maybe this had been due to the fact I hadn't been out and about as much the year before, but I like to think that just a season of no intervention/disturbance allowed nature to do what it does best.

What also bothers me is the backlash from the 'bambi brigade' every time there is a serious deer cull, There are far too many deer destroying forest and woods  as no regeneration can take place with the numbers we have presently, and with no natural predators to do the job and keep the numbers manageable and healthy how else can it be done??

Like Beavers, Wolves and other predators would/ will be of great benefit to the ecology of these wild places, and thus benefit all.      Well I think so anyway.

 

 

I think that a wolf population would be great. It could help manage the burgeoning deer population which is impacting negatively on woodland ecosystems by removing much of the understorey that so many bird species depend on.

Regretably I suspect that certain "interests" will never allow it. The same kind of interests that deny us a wild Hen Harrier population, that "disappear" White Tailed Sea Eagles, and that distort natural environmental processes to advantage certain "commercially significant" species over others.

Wild Boar now have a solid foothold around my neck of the woods and they've caused plenty of wailing and gnashing of teeth. On the continent they're part of the "furniture" and so far mankind hasn't been driven to extinction by them....

But if we are having wolves could I put in a word for Lynxs too please.