Wolf and Lynx Could be Re-introduced to the UK
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.
Daily Telegraph: 29th November 2007
