Should we reintroduce wolves to the UK?

[bunn]

Just wondering what you thought.

Here are some people who like the idea: http://www.wolftrust.org.uk/whyreintroduce.html

and here's someone who's not keen: http://users.tinyonline.co.uk/wolf.help/the%20wolf%20in%20scotland.htm

Comments

[bunn.livejournal.com]

We've got wild boars, thanks to some helpful animal rights people, who felt that they were better roaming the moors than living on small free range farms.

They have had the hunt out after them loads of times and still haven't found them all. Apparently some of 'em tried to eat someone's dachshund earlier this month. The 80 year old owner beat the boars off with her walking stick, which I thought was wonderfully Lobelia-ish.

One has to wonder about the priorities of AR activists.

The fact that nobody can find the boar makes me wonder about the argument that the UK is too small and crowded for large dangerous animals, which does on the face of it seem fairly convincing. I wonder if we put them back, how easy it would be to eliminate them again?

[helflaed.livejournal.com]

"Lobelia" is lucky that she wasn't seriously injured. I've heard the other half and a Polish friend of our swapping notes about dangerous wildlife a few times. They both agree that wolves are not likely to bother anyone, but have a healthy fear of boar- especially the ones with young. (They both grew up in forested areas in Central Europe and have relatives who work/have worked in forestry)

I do not have a very high opinion of AR activists. Whilst I do support the right of those concerned with animal welfare to campaign and protest (although not to protest in a way which blockades the lab entrances or is intended to be threatening) I do not support the right of random people to enter labs or farms and do damage or release animals. The mink are a case in point. There were two releases from fur farms, the second occurring after the effects of mink on native wildlife were known. I sometimes wonder how much they care about animals or whether it is just an excuse for criminal activity.

As for the wolves- I'm still undecided. As there are other species whose reintroduction is well overdue (eg beaver) I think they should be reintroduced first whilst more research is done into the effects of reintroducing larger species.

As for red deer overpopulation, I have only one thing to say.

Venison.