Going Wild?

Feature by Jon Seller | 15 Jul 2006

In the wildest wilds of North-West Scotland, a plan is being hatched. Paul Lister, owner of 23,000 hectares of some of the world's most beautiful landscapes, has a dream - to restore the 'big five' mammal species back to the land they once roamed, as part of a return to a historically accurate landscape within his fenced 'wilderness area'. The big five in question are the bear, European bison, lynx, wild boar and the wolf – each one complete with its own set of detractors. Under European conservation legislation, it is required of member states to pursue the possibility of reintroducing native species, as such, we've seen the successful reintroduction of the white-tailed eagle and osprey, whilst feasibility studies into bringing back the beaver are in their latter stages. However, when the possibility of reintroducing a top predator is mentioned suddenly those with the power don't want to know (SNH, Scotland's governmental conservation body have repeatedly declared no interest in such reintroduction plans). Aside from any perceived 'right' of these creatures to be restored to these islands, there is also the issue of biodiversity and the UK's international preaching compared with it's domestic practice. Whilst the suits in power demand action overseas for governments to prevent people killing endangered species to feed their family for example, it ignores the call of those wishing to see centuries of persecution against the once-numerous large mammals of the UK, to be reversed.


The most obvious arguments levelled at those wishing to restore large predatory mammals to our countryside is that they would threaten not only the livelihood of livestock farmers, but also pose a real threat to the general public wherever they may be encountered. Having been without any kind of potential predator for the past 250+ years (the last wolf is thought to have been killed in 1743), we perhaps have built up an irrational resistance to any such predators being around. You'd be hard pressed to think of a country in a similar predicament so surely we're missing something? From an ecological perspective, top predators are vital and a good indicator of health within the system. A good of example of where wolves, for example, are missed in Scotland is the apparent unrelenting increase in Red Deer numbers, posing a real threat to our wild places through overgrazing. Without any kind of limiting factor in their population growth, an intensive, expensive and often controversial culling regime is employed in many areas.


Paul Lister's dream may well come true within a heavily fenced and secure wilderness area, however the chances of any predatory members of the big five roaming our countryside freely is unlikely. There are real and perfectly viable arguments for wolf and lynx reintroduction, however the minute possibility that they may kill a human being weighs heavier than any of the benefits. In a time where accountability and blame have replaced common sense in our society, will authorities ever be willing to take this risk?

Check out www.wolftrust.org.uk for more information;
See also www.alladale.com