I want European Bison to be reintroduced, am i the only one?

[conisag]

It seems after extensive internet searching there is a gran total of zero talk of reintroducing the european bison to britains wilderness, even tho it could prove useful in maintaining land like dartmoor, exmoor new forrest etc or even the highlands, now i believe the reason for its extinction in britain was because of man, but no one is talking about them anywhere for a reintroduction to britain.

They are also in extreme danger of dieting out and an extension in its range could prove beneficial.

[RKB]

It's a bonkers idea. Bison are a forest species, and there isn't much forest in Britain, certainly not enough for a self-sustaining population of Bison. Throw in the anthrogenic aspect of motorways and urbanisation, and Britain just isn't suitable habitat for them anymore. Plus, there are so few globally that releasing them here would be a waste.

[Paul mabbott]

Quite so - whenever talking about reintroductions we need to assess whether there is adequate habitat to maintain a healthy population. So anyone suggesting such reintroductions needs to suggest where there is an adequate area of land.

[Johnny Redgate]

You also need to answer honestly the question of how/if will it improve the conservation status of the species.

[darrenm]

we do not have the wilderness in this country for the species to be viable and any area where they would be released would have to be fenced off and would in effect become a glorified zoo.

The reintroduction of any species must be balanced against what impact it may have on other species down the line and perhaps any money being used to finance very costly reintroduction programmes of any species would perhaps be better spent on trying to maintain the species we have allready but thats just my humble view on a lot of reintroduction programmes.

[Malcolm Fraser]

Peter Taylor's book "Beyond Conservation" examines the potential for reintroduction of many herbivores and carnivores.

His thoughts on European Bison match the concerns already voiced here - there's currently not enough habitat for them and any reintroduction would have to follow huge re-foresting programmes. He also raises the issue of bovine diseases such as brucellosis which bison can transmit to livestock.

[conisag]

Originally Posted by Malcolm Fraser

Peter Taylor's book "Beyond Conservation" examines the potential for reintroduction of many herbivores and carnivores.

His thoughts on European Bison match the concerns already voiced here - there's currently not enough habitat for them and any reintroduction would have to follow huge re-foresting programmes. He also raises the issue of bovine diseases such as brucellosis which bison can transmit to livestock.

Looks like im about to get my wish on alladale wildlife reserve either way, of which iam sure when they reintroduced there will be enough forest.
+Ive seen many videos on Bison (yes European) walking thru farmland quite happily.

[RKB]

Originally Posted by conisag

Looks like im about to get my wish on alladale wildlife reserve either way, of which iam sure when they reintroduced there will be enough forest.
+Ive seen many videos on Bison (yes European) walking thru farmland quite happily.

I bet the farmer wasn't quite as happy.

Alladale is a zoo.

[conisag]

Originally Posted by RKB

I bet the farmer wasn't quite as happy.

Alladale is a zoo.

farmer wasnt about, and im sure if he was, he wouldnt have been that bothered the field was dry.
alladale is not a zoo its a wildlife reserve, zoo's do not have animals roaming anywhere near the land alladale does and the animals do not eat each other, people klid themselves because there isnt anything like alladale and they NEED to be able to classify it as something rather than what it is which is a wildlife reserve containing (or will be) wild animals.

[The Woodman]

Do animals eat each other in zoos?