"Re-Introduce" Species Into The Red Island

 I need to make something very clear and it demonstrates why I take my current stance on things.  

During the early to mid 1800s so many deer were wiped out from 'sport' hunting that in many areas new stock were imported from Europe to keep the 'enjoyment and sport' going. This is why, when DNA is taken from deer in the UK we hear "They match European deer so are of the same species not unique".

By the 1860s the Red Squirrel had been wiped out due to 'fun' of hunting. The response was to introduce through importation many more from Europe to "replenish stock".  This is why, when DNA is taken from red squirrels in the UK we hear "They match European red squirrels so are of the same species not unique". Since the 1860s red squirrels have faced several extinction threats and of course Grey squirrels are used as the scapegoat for that yet red squirrels are still being shot, snared, poisoned etc.

Although the British wild cat survived for longer than is officially claimed, which shows how ignorant people are and how historical references have been diligently ignored in favour of dogma. In 1780 it was a known fact that the British wild cat had only survived due to interbreeding with feral domestic cats and had probably done so for centuries. Officially, in 1897, Scottish naturalists and zoologists declared in print that the "true" Scottish wild cat had become extinct in the 1860s (as did other species). There were numbers of imported European wild cats in private menageries, travelling menageries and so on.  Escapes, deliberate releases into rented hunting areas etc is recorded. This is why, when DNA is taken from wild cats in the UK we hear "They match European wild cats so are of the same species not unique"

By the 1860s (in some areas of Scotland perhaps 1870s?) the three types of Old British fox -the Mountain/Greyhound, Mastiff and Cur- were extinct or in some cases hybridising with some of the many thousands of imported European red foxes. It is estimated that 2000 plus red foxes were imported into England each year and this importation had probably begun in the 1600s/1700s. Wave after wave of extinctions -due to hunting and hunting practices- followed and even in the 1920s foxes were being stolen from Ireland to replenish English hunt stocks. This is why, when DNA is taken from red foxes in the UK we hear "They match European red foxes so are of the same species not unique".

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I could go on and on but if the readers of this blog have not understood this situation by now I may as well give up.

We know that there are various former exotic cat species that have lived and bred in the wild in the UK for decades and in some areas going as far back as the 1920s. We know that one of these cats is the lynx. We also know that farmers have shot and killed wild living lynx since the 1920s (documented in The Red Paper 2022 Vol. II -Felids). The lynx that were killed were doing what a wild cat does and that was killing to survive and when conditions got bad a sheep was a good meal. 

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I see repeatedly on Rewilding Scotland and England sites all the calls to bring back lynx and every time the question of "What about farmers rights" is raised. Adequate compensation for kills is mentioned and treated as an insult. At the moment 'sporting shooters' are actually wishing people would hurry up and re-introduce lynx so they can "bag" one (not understanding what the term "bag" in hunting means). 

Even now with some areas introducing the European wild cats there is talk of "taking one if it comes into my sight". No one can offer any lynx or wild cat 25/7 and 365 days of the year protection. Even with radio collars there is no guaranteed safety for the animals. You are talking about people with high power rifles and night-sights that go out each week to wipe out as many foxes as they can for 'fun' and brag about it and show the photos. No police or RSPCA action is taken against these people.  We know that publicised escaped pet foxes even with collars once seen are shot and there is joking. Pet cats are also being killed. But, yes, perfectly fine to introduce lynx and wild cats.

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I am absolutely opposed to any introduction of any wild animal until there are laws in hannd which are rigorously enforced by the police with no exceptions (including off duty police officers 'enjoying' some shooting).

Wolves being introduced to the UK has the 'sportsmen' very excited. There is even discussion of which areas wolves are proposed being released into and where the good shooting spots might be. This is before any animnal has been approved for release and actually released.

Those who keep an eye on these things, and there are fewer of us each year, know what the situation is but there is a lot of money invested in these schemes and after all any animal killed can be replaced. Sound familiar?

We know Australia as "The Red Continent" (a term coined by Australian naturalists) due to its appalling record in killing by any means anything it does not like while stating it is to save Australia's natural fauna (which it is also killing).  The UK has a similar reputation, or should have. Far from being "a nation of animal lovers" the UK should be re-labelled (especially with a pro hunt government feeding off the money of pro hunt supporters) "The Red Island. We are still killing off our own 'protected species' for no reason as well as many other species because greed is more important.

Do your own research -you will not find it online or on You Tube or in any UK museum, for that matter.  But the real question is probably "Who cares?"