Why doesn't ZooChat have a like button?
This is exactly the problem regarding bringing back, in particular, large carnivores to the UK. Space isn't the issue, nor is lack of humans - Scottish Highlands are perfect for both. The problem is that the usuable habitat is completely man-made. No forest. Even the burgeoning red deer population aren't 'healthy' due to the fact that red deer are not naturally found on moorland.
When I wrote reports on the rewilding of Lynx for Alladale Estate, Mr Lister who does have experience in "living" in various parts of the world, especially within Africa and has keen involvement within numerous environmental issues. One of the areas that was pointed out to him and his team University "experts", was that the UK as a whole within it's land and, land management has been been man-made or man-influenced. From the Broads to the New Forest, from the forests to the islands, from the lakes to the lochs; from hills and to the mountains. All have had some or greater than some man-made involvement. The way our "wilds" and natural areas were 100 and 100 plus years ago have changed so much that what we, we the mass public know today as being "wild" is really false and in truth, man has made it to be what we know it now.
With land owners, land tenants, farmers, livestock holders, ramblers and even eco-tourism specialists have all objected to the rewilding scheme, there has been many reports issued by the Ramblers Association, Mountaineering Council, National Farmers Union, Kayak Associations and many other NGOs and Governmental Bodies who have all opposed Mr Lister. Even the Scottish SPCA have made it very clear that they oppose any such scheme and have threatened to use the Animal Welfare and Health (Scotland) Act 2006 and other Acts, including the Zoo Licence Act and DWA to warrant legal action against Mr Lister. The Scottish Office may be keen on paper for such rewilding but this has never been shown on a level practical field.
It is very correct to say that wolf and lynx will affect deer movement, but number control data is full of suspect misinformation. Damage from boar, Elk and other species is known but alas Mr Lister has made little impact research for others to help him back up his idea. You just cannot take a hand full of species and then mix them in, mix them into an environment, and do so within a very small time-frame or time window then expect them all to get along, be happy and play happy families. Alladale Estate has had problems from the very start, animals not been kept correctly from animals that have caused damaged and have had to been sent elsewhere. The political stance and fight which saw the Estate being denied permission for various legal matters, then there is the public backlash and the will to actually complete this "dream".
Will wolf, Lynx etc be seen "wild" within the UK? NO.... However, that does not mean there are some small success stories elsewhere, where such small pockets of other lesser large or damage-making species have indeed been making a small come back.
