The Real Monarch Of The Glen

[ron1863]

Started tonight on BBC 2 Scotland at 8:00pm, I don't know if it will be broadcast in England but it's a new series following multi-millionare Paul Lister's dream of creating a 23,000 acre enclosed wildlife reserve in Sutherland where he attempts to introduce Beaver, Moose and other mammals that used to be native to Scotland.

[deer boy]

Hi Ron it was mentioned in this thread, sadly i don't think we can get it although hopefully they'll show it at a later date

Scottish wilderness reserve

[deer boy]

How many episodes have been on so far & what nights it on?

I've seen two now hope i've not missed any

For those that want to catch the second episode
BBC iPlayer - The Real Monarch of the Glen: Boar on Board

[deer boy]

Just watched the latest episode, well worth watching, it will be great if they achieve what they've set out to do

For those interested there's lots of information & some lovely pics here

Alladale Wilderness Lodge and Reserve

[ron1863]

Hi Rodney, you have not missed any episodes. I agree that it is a worthwhile venture - apart from the Rhino. Apart from that, I don't think they have the space for the amount of animal species they are introducing, though it will be interesting to see what happens.

Trigger

[deer boy]

Originally Posted by ron1863

Hi Rodney, you have not missed any episodes.

Hi Trigger thats great news

Originally Posted by ron1863

I agree that it is a worthwhile venture - apart from the Rhino.

I'm sure there's not going to be any Rhino

Originally Posted by ron1863

Apart from that, I don't think they have the space for the amount of animal species they are introducing, though it will be interesting to see what happens.
Trigger

I agree, his going to have to get his neighbours on board & make the enclosure bigger

[derelict]

I caught the hour long programme on ?BBC4 on this topic

One of the most interesting areas covered was the attitude of the Scottish ramblers who are used to routinely fighting landowners who restrict access or change land use. Here they found themselves on something of a dogmatic back foot, effectively opposing the reintroduction of wolves etc into 'wild' country because it would restrict the 'right to roam' the same ( legal constraints mean the animals would have to be securely enclosed).

There's a Dutch scheme that has hit similar problems - although they have horses, cattle, deer, boar etc living wild in an enclosure as part of a EU reintroduction initiative they cannot have large predators (i.e. wolves) in there because there are laws/rules that say you cannot have the public exposed to the sight of large predator-prey interactions; you cannot have predator and prey living together in an enclosed space in any way open to the public. Combined with the non-intervention policy they practise with respect to the animals already there, the result there is that there are frequently emaciated/debilitated animals on show when food is short - which shocks the visiting public far more...

[derelict]

Coincidentally the BBC broadcast a programme about the Sutherland initiative last week on the Radio4 programme Open Country. This programme can still be listened too, though there will be little new for those who saw the same BBC TV programme I saw. BBC - Radio 4 - Open Country is the way in. Even more coincidentally, the current week's offering relates to the problems of policing wildlife protection legislation in the estates of Tayside.