The Wild Beasts Trust
Encyclopedia
The Wild Beasts Trust is an endangered species
enthusiast movement who, in September 2006, declared their intentions to reintroduce
numerous nationally extinct species back into the wild in the United Kingdom
.
In part their actions were motivated by a desire to return the British countryside to its original setting. Although woodlands were returning, The Wild Beasts Trust saw the picture as half complete without their original inhabitants. The group wanted increased hunting and food potentials for the countryside. Spokesperson for The Wild Beasts Trust Peter Clarke, a landowner and former Conservative Party
candidate, wrote that, "Our candidate species for rebuilding the habitat range from the grey whale to the dormouse
, carnivore to herbivore. We include the wolf, the lynx
, the bear
, the wolverine
, the beaver
, the elk
, the boar
, the walrus
, the bison
, the mouflon
, the lemming
and one non-mammal - the sturgeon
."
The initial areas for reintroduction appeared to be in Northumberland
forests, and the borders
region of Scotland. When it was revealed that six lynx and several wolves were being secretly held for reintroduction, the Northumbrian
, and Lothian and Borders
police became involved in the matter. They publicly warned the group that they would be committing a serious offence, also stating that a specific exotic animal license was required to own any big cat
. Richard Dodd, of the Countryside Alliance
, said the plan had been a "ludicrous idea... Wolves are dangerous animals. What happens if they start killing children or farmer's livestock?" UK Government department DEFRA further denounced the plans, claiming the reintroductions could be "devastating" to the countryside. Spokesperson Peter Clarke's public defence was that, "Everyone has Little Red Riding Hood in their mental furniture, but that is far from the reality."
On 18 April 2008, elk and boar, imported from Sweden, were reintroduced by Scottish landowner Paul Lister. He has further plans for lynx and wolves.
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
enthusiast movement who, in September 2006, declared their intentions to reintroduce
Reintroduction
Reintroduction is the deliberate release of a species into the wild in zones formerly inhabited by said species but where it has disappeared from for a number of reasons, from captivity or relocated from other areas where the species still survives in...
numerous nationally extinct species back into the wild in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
In part their actions were motivated by a desire to return the British countryside to its original setting. Although woodlands were returning, The Wild Beasts Trust saw the picture as half complete without their original inhabitants. The group wanted increased hunting and food potentials for the countryside. Spokesperson for The Wild Beasts Trust Peter Clarke, a landowner and former Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
candidate, wrote that, "Our candidate species for rebuilding the habitat range from the grey whale to the dormouse
Dormouse
Dormice are rodents of the family Gliridae. Dormice are mostly found in Europe, although some live in Africa and Asia. They are particularly known for their long periods of hibernation...
, carnivore to herbivore. We include the wolf, the lynx
Lynx
A lynx is any of the four Lynx genus species of medium-sized wildcats. The name "lynx" originated in Middle English via Latin from Greek word "λύγξ", derived from the Indo-European root "*leuk-", meaning "light, brightness", in reference to the luminescence of its reflective eyes...
, the bear
Bear
Bears are mammals of the family Ursidae. Bears are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans, with the pinnipeds being their closest living relatives. Although there are only eight living species of bear, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the Northern...
, the wolverine
Wolverine
The wolverine, pronounced , Gulo gulo , also referred to as glutton, carcajou, skunk bear, or quickhatch, is the largest land-dwelling species of the family Mustelidae . It is a stocky and muscular carnivore, more closely resembling a small bear than other mustelids...
, the beaver
Beaver
The beaver is a primarily nocturnal, large, semi-aquatic rodent. Castor includes two extant species, North American Beaver and Eurasian Beaver . Beavers are known for building dams, canals, and lodges . They are the second-largest rodent in the world...
, the elk
Elk
The Elk is the large deer, also called Cervus canadensis or wapiti, of North America and eastern Asia.Elk may also refer to:Other antlered mammals:...
, the boar
Boar
Wild boar, also wild pig, is a species of the pig genus Sus, part of the biological family Suidae. The species includes many subspecies. It is the wild ancestor of the domestic pig, an animal with which it freely hybridises...
, the walrus
Walrus
The walrus is a large flippered marine mammal with a discontinuous circumpolar distribution in the Arctic Ocean and sub-Arctic seas of the Northern Hemisphere. The walrus is the only living species in the Odobenidae family and Odobenus genus. It is subdivided into three subspecies: the Atlantic...
, the bison
Bison
Members of the genus Bison are large, even-toed ungulates within the subfamily Bovinae. Two extant and four extinct species are recognized...
, the mouflon
Mouflon
The mouflon is a subspecies group of the wild sheep Ovis aries. Populations of Ovis aries can be partitioned into the mouflons and urials or arkars...
, the lemming
Lemming
Lemmings are small rodents, usually found in or near the Arctic, in tundra biomes. They are subniveal animals, and together with voles and muskrats, they make up the subfamily Arvicolinae , which forms part of the largest mammal radiation by far, the superfamily Muroidea, which also includes rats,...
and one non-mammal - the sturgeon
Sturgeon
Sturgeon is the common name used for some 26 species of fish in the family Acipenseridae, including the genera Acipenser, Huso, Scaphirhynchus and Pseudoscaphirhynchus. The term includes over 20 species commonly referred to as sturgeon and several closely related species that have distinct common...
."
The initial areas for reintroduction appeared to be in Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
forests, and the borders
Scottish Borders
The Scottish Borders is one of 32 local government council areas of Scotland. It is bordered by Dumfries and Galloway in the west, South Lanarkshire and West Lothian in the north west, City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian to the north; and the non-metropolitan counties of Northumberland...
region of Scotland. When it was revealed that six lynx and several wolves were being secretly held for reintroduction, the Northumbrian
Northumbria Police
Northumbria Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing the areas of Northumberland and Tyne and Wear in North East England. The service is the sixth largest police force in England and Wales. The current Chief Constable is Sue Sim who was appointed by Northumbria Police...
, and Lothian and Borders
Lothian and Borders Police
Lothian and Borders Police is the territorial police force for the Scottish council areas of the City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian, Scottish Borders and West Lothian...
police became involved in the matter. They publicly warned the group that they would be committing a serious offence, also stating that a specific exotic animal license was required to own any big cat
Big cat
The term big cat – which is not a biological classification – is used informally to distinguish the larger felid species from smaller ones. One definition of "big cat" includes the four members of the genus Panthera: the tiger, lion, jaguar, and leopard. Members of this genus are the only cats able...
. Richard Dodd, of the Countryside Alliance
Countryside Alliance
The Countryside Alliance is a British organisation promoting issues relating to the countryside such as country sports, including hunting, shooting and angling...
, said the plan had been a "ludicrous idea... Wolves are dangerous animals. What happens if they start killing children or farmer's livestock?" UK Government department DEFRA further denounced the plans, claiming the reintroductions could be "devastating" to the countryside. Spokesperson Peter Clarke's public defence was that, "Everyone has Little Red Riding Hood in their mental furniture, but that is far from the reality."
Other attempts at reintroduction in the UK
In April 2007 research ecologists at Aberdeen University, led by Dr David Hetherington, made similar claims to those made by The Wild Beasts Trust.On 18 April 2008, elk and boar, imported from Sweden, were reintroduced by Scottish landowner Paul Lister. He has further plans for lynx and wolves.