This will probably come as a surprise to some but..
I do not want to see wolves officially introduced to the UK.
I do not want to see wild cats introduced officially to the UK
I do not want to see lynx officially introduced to the UK
I tend not to use the term "re-introduction" since the animals suggested for this have nothing to do with the originals that occupied Britain, They were wiped out by felicide, lupicide and general persecution for 'fun' or gain.
After 50 years of studying felids and canids as well as other lost species I can guarantee that any animal introduced would be dead sooner or later. Every night men and women go out in full cammo gear with high power rifles to just kill foxes and anything else they can spot for 'fun'. It is that pure and simple and we know the odd pet cat or domestic animal are 'accidentally' killed.
We know snaring is an active pursuit and yet the law is impotent when it comes to tackling this. We know wildlife is deliberately poisoned.
Look at 'protected' species such as the badger which is currently, legally, being exterminated from the UK. The introduced beaver can be "disposed of" with no questions asked. Otters are dying from being caught in illegal nets and shot. Protected species.
Wildlife crime seems to go virtually unchecked in the UK and if its private property then red squirrels (protected) or any other animal or bird is killed with virtual impunity.
I have dealt with farmers, game keepers and country shooters since 1976 and that has shown me what is going on. The real face of what is laughingly called "a nation of animal lovers".
First sheep that dies min the wild and an introduced lynx or wolf feeds off of it -"LIVE STOCK KILLERS" will be screamed out loud and calls to "control" (kill) the animal. Does not matter if a crowd of 50 saw the sheep fall off a cliff -a wolf or lynx is seen eating it then IT is the killer.
Look at the disgusting and disgraceful killing of wolves in Sweden which threatens the wolf population because of weak kneed politicians caving in to farmers or their pals who want some 'fun'. And this is not the first time for Sweden or Scandinavia.
In a country with no national wildlife organisation to oversee things and where a brown envelope in a pocket helps a politician to make a decision and where we have a Conservative pro hunt government who is going to oversee protection of wildlife which the current UK government has removed as much protection from as it wants with no public outcry? The UK is even changing the laws -again no outcry- so that even environmental protection is gone.
Taxidermy to order is worth a lot of money. Wanting to "bag big game" as well as simple psychopathy and wanting to kill something for 'fun' will see any species introduced drop in population very quickly and the ultimate reason for the failure? Failure of breeding pairs. Anything but human incompetence and cruelty.
Would I like to see wolves in the UK? Yes
Would I like to see wild cats in the UK? Yes
How about lynx in the UK? YES.
But I, and any real naturalist out there with experience all know what is going to happen. Save the hundreds of thousands of pounds spent on debates, committees and hot air and put it into real wildlife protection.
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