Here is an environmental story that should please nature and animal lovers of all ages. While Donald Trump is determined to turn large portions of the Scottish coast into a golf course,Paul "the wolfman" Lister, multi-millionaire philanthropist and heir to the MFI furniture fortune, is determined to turn a significant portion of it into a nature preserve, known as Alladale Estate and Wildlife Reserve in Sutherland, 40 miles north of Inverness.
Here are some of the animals he intends to reintroduce to Scotland, many of which were driven from the country centuries ago, which I copied from the Guardian article.
Brown Bear
Together with its cousin, the polar bear, this mammal is the largest land carnivore. Regularly reaching half a tonne in weight, this bear survived in Britain until the later Roman period. Biologists have largely hailed resettlement projects in Italy, Austria and France, though they are more controversial with the general population. A brown bear called Bruno was shot dead in Germany last year, after crossing the Italian Alps, where it had been re-introduced. It went on a killing spree, savaging dozens of sheep.
Wolf
The last British wolf was killed after an attack on two youngsters in Sutherland in 1743, but wolf attacks on humans remain rare. The common grey wolf thrives in a host of different climates and habitats, and should adapt easily to the Highlands. Successfully re-introduced to the Yellowstone National Park and Idaho in 1995, other re-introduction projects are taking place in Germany, Denmark and Italy. Mr Lister plans to introduce two packs, comprising 15 animals.
Elk
The second largest species of deer, they can grow to a huge 8ft tall. Males have large antlers which are shed each year. Closely related to Scotland's red deer, they are found mostly in North America and east Asia. Attempts to introduce them to New Zealand and Argentina have been largely successful.
Lynx
One of the closest wild relatives of the domestic cat, it has a fondness for higher altitudes. Remains from the Craven caves in North Yorkshire suggest it survived in Britain until the seventh century at least, radically revising earlier theories about its demise more than 10,000 years ago. Found widely in Siberia and the Carpathian mountains of central Europe, the lynx has been successfully re-introduced in the Balkans in the past decade.
Beaver
Still living on a number of private estates in Britain, this semi-aquatic rodent was hunted to near extinction in Europe. Both its fur and castoreum, a secretion from its scent gland, were highly sought after. It became extinct in Britain in the 16th century, but was gradually re-introduced at the end of the 20th century in Gloucestershire, Kent, and Lancashire. Its need for water will be more than met by the rivers Alladale and Carron in the Highlands.
It is a controversial project, I guess in part due to the dangerous natures of some of the animals, but also I am guessing because the general plan is to let nature take its course, so to speak. Those elk will make a fine meal for the bears and wolves, and the survivors of the carnage will in turn produce a stronger herd.
It's good to read an environmental story that doesn't make me want to cuss at my poor, innocent computer screen.
