Wolf Reintroduction yes or no

[TORTUGA]

I have posted this before, but will say again. Italy has a growing Wolf population, 60 million people and a land mass of similar size. No one has been eaten and I dont see why it cant happen here. People have said on here that we should look after what we have got first, well we would be by re-introducing a native animal. The Deer need a predator to keep their numbers in check, the alternative is being shot, I say bring the Lynx back also, they eat Rabbits and small Deer, so should do well. The chances are you wont see one, they are all far more scared of you as you the Human are the TOP PREDATOR.

[WolvesxRxBeauty]

Originally Posted by TORTUGA

I have posted this before, but will say again. Italy has a growing Wolf population, 60 million people and a land mass of similar size. No one has been eaten and I dont see why it cant happen here. People have said on here that we should look after what we have got first, well we would be by re-introducing a native animal. The Deer need a predator to keep their numbers in check, the alternative is being shot, I say bring the Lynx back also, they eat Rabbits and small Deer, so should do well. The chances are you wont see one, they are all far more scared of you as you the Human are the TOP PREDATOR.

I think that just about sums it up! well said!

[Sciurus]

I think before we even consider reintroducing one of the top predators it would be a good idea to find out if we can be succesful at re-introducing a slightly less emotive species - the Beaver being a prime example. That's caused enough of a headache!

I love the thought of wolves back in Britain, and lynx, but one step at a time me thinks.

Seeing as we seem to struggle with the species we've got (both native and non-native) it may take a while.

[nightshade]

One thing about reintroducing wolves it would make a breakdown in the countryside very interesting

[lewiso]

1st of all let me say that yes i do beleive they should be reintroduced along with others such as lynx. But just imagine what would happen if somebody was killed by them or worse still a child there would be a huge media outcry against them. The headlines would be "man eating wolves" and within a day they would all of been shot im not been pesimistic but its the times we live in where anything that is considerd the slightest risk to people is removed!

[TORTUGA]

Originally Posted by lewiso

1st of all let me say that yes i do beleive they should be reintroduced along with others such as lynx. But just imagine what would happen if somebody was killed by them or worse still a child there would be a huge media outcry against them. The headlines would be "man eating wolves" and within a day they would all of been shot im not been pesimistic but its the times we live in where anything that is considerd the slightest risk to people is removed!

I hear what you are saying Lewiso, however you have more chance of being trampled or gorged by a cow, more chance of falling from a horse, statistics for being run over or dying in a car crash etc are massive.

In 50 years 17 people have been killed by Wolves. That is accross the whole of Europe, Russia and North America. This is 17 people out of a human population of 1,000,000,000.

[ellen h]

Its a nice idea,but there will always be a section of our community who would either not want them here and try to kill them or wants to kill one for a trophy.
And as has been said if by misfortune someone was hurt by one of them(unlikely I think) then there would be a massive outcry as to the validity of reintroducing them.
Its ironic that I know someone who loves wolves and would love to see them be reintroduced,yet hates foxes with a passion!!She just will not see that her reaction to foxes was probably the same reaction people had against wolves that caused their extinction
Ellen

[lewiso]

I agree the chances of any1 been hurt by 1 are realy remote but if anybody ever was im sure that they would all get shot or caught and put down. Its the hyperparanoid society in which we live. I would love brown bears to be brought back to this country ( in austria they have recenty began to populate there after hundreds of years and have been welcomed back) but i fear in this country it would only be a matter of time before something happend and they had to go! its sad realy

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by lewiso

I agree the chances of any1 been hurt by 1 are realy remote but if anybody ever was im sure that they would all get shot or caught and put down.

that isnt the experience in canada or norway or other places that have wolf populations - when there is a human attack it is normal to shoot the wolf responsible (not least because the biggest cause of such attacks is rabies - not an issue in the uk) but it doesnt lead to a knee jerk slaughter of whole packs or populations.

[Rob_D]

Originally Posted by lewiso

in austria they have recenty began to populate there after hundreds of years and have been welcomed back(

The one bear that wandered into Bavaria (who have the bear on their flag) did not last 2 months before he was shot by the authorities because of the "risk".

Originally Posted by eeyore

that isnt the experience in canada or norway or other places that have wolf populations - when there is a human attack it is normal to shoot the wolf responsible (not least because the biggest cause of such attacks is rabies - not an issue in the uk) but it doesnt lead to a knee jerk slaughter of whole packs or populations.

The Norwegian government was very happy to cull wolves despite all sorts of international outcry.

The threat to humans from healthy wolves is minimal, but the worries for livestock and pets are very real. I have experience of 2 large horses being killed by wolves in Romania and it is quite unnerving when you were feeding the horses only the day before. And dogs will be easy prey too. You'd have to take strong & expensive measures to protect domestic animals and especially pets, and then have the public support to accept and compensate for the inevitable losses.

I am certainly in favour. It won't be easy to overcome the prejudices, but we should try.