Rewilding Britain is a charity set up to help begin to reverse the ecological damage we have done to the environment. They intend to do this through providing people with the correct information about the benefits of reintroducing 'keystone' species. These are species that are crucial to a properly functioning ecosystem, and they include animals such as wild boar, beaver, grey whale, lynx and even wolves. Research has shown that these keystone species are crucial to the environment, as they drive ecological processes and have a much larger impact on the environment than people realise. Trophic cascades refer to ecological processes that occur from the top of the food chain down to the bottom, and it is this discovery that has led to the realisation that living systems can't function properly when they are missing keystone species, thus, these species are to play an important role in Rewilding Britain.
Reading through the rest of the site, I found that they had created small little fact files about each of the species and what effect they would have on the environment and so on. I found these to be extremely useful and have decided to create my own little fact files based on the information found on this site of the animals that Katy and I are focusing on. Having said this however, the site doesn't mention seals in any way, so I spoke with Katy and we have decided to focus on wolves instead, as this seems more relevant to the research we are doing. Although we originally decided to look at boars, I want to do research into the other animals on the site too to give ourselves more options when we come to finalise our idea.
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| Example Fact File (of wolf) |
Based on what the site has said about these keystone species I have been able to put together a list of facts about the advantages and disadvantages of these animals being re-introduced into the British environment that I will be able to refer to when I come to write the script.
Wolf
Suitability: There is no ecological reason why wolves can't live in Britain. Due to the high levels of habitat and prey available wolves would be a good reintroduction.
Human Risk: Human risk is very low due to these animals being shy and avoiding humans where possible. Wolves have been re-established across many European countries with little trouble.
Advantage: Wolves keep grazing animals such as deer on the move, preventing them from overgrazing on fragile tree seedlings. This in turn will create more habitats for hundreds of woodland species. Wolves are also likely to reduce the loss of arable crops, increasing yield for farmers. They are also a huge tourist attraction.
Disadvantage: Livestock would have to managed differently where wolves were present, however this is already being achieved in Europe. There would also need to be a compensation scheme for the livestock losses that would occur.
Wild Boar
Suitability: Wild boar are already living in some areas of England and Scotland unofficially and are an excellent choice for reintroduction.
Human Risk: There appears to be none, regarding that humans respect the animals and don't threaten them.
Advantage: Wild boar can increase biodiversity through rooting and wallowing. They create space for trees and other plants to grow. Also Robins appear to follow boar. Wild boar are also a tourist attraction.
Disadvantage: Wild Boar can cause damage to crops and gardens and there have been a few incidents in which boar have been a traffic hazard. They can also be a threat to domestic pets such as dogs, but this rarely the case.
Lynx
Suitability: Lynx are a very shy animal that prefer the shelter of woodland, making them an excellent species to be reintroduced into parts of Scotland and Northern England. They currently live across Europe and have been successfully released into Switzerland.
Human Risk: Due to the Lynx being shy and living in large woodland areas, there would low risk to humans. However, this is inconclusive, as the site didn't actually state this.
Advantage: Lynx help woodlands regenerate by controlling the numbers of roe deer and invasive species such as sika deer. They also prey on foxes, which would help to reduce the numbers.
Disadvantage: Lynx are a top predator and people may be afraid of such animals and attempt to kill them if ever face to face.
Beavers
Suitability: Beavers have already been successfully re-introduced to Knapdale in Scotland and are spreading to other areas of Scotland and have even been reported in Devon. This re-establishment has also received widespread public support.
Human Risk: None.
Advantage: Beavers can create habitats for hundreds more species and allow for the return of species. They also slow the flow of rivers, reducing the danger of flooding. Beavers also have a positive effect on the welfare of salmon.
Disadvantage: Can't think of any right now.
Grey Whale
Suitability: More research needs to be done in order to know if the grey whale could be transported from the Pacific for breeding purposes. However, two grey whales recently found there way into the Atlantic and was once common in Britain's estuaries and shallow bays.
Human Risk: The grey whale appears to have a remarkable affinity for people, sometimes appearing to encourage people to touch it.
Advantage: The site doesn't actually state one nor does it state a disadvantage. Personally, I think the grey whale may be something we avoid, as there isn't enough research on it to create an accurate study.
Taking a quick glance at the information I have, I feel that Katy and I should probably stick to only two of the animals due to the time restriction of the project. Keeping this in mind, I think I'd definitely like to focus on the wolf, as I feel that there is a large amount of information on this animal, making it easy for me to create a script containing facts. For the other animal I'd either like to focus on the Lynx, as then it would make our animation focus on the reintroduction of top predators or on the wild boar. I feel that both animals will help to drive our message home and it is simply a case of choosing which we'd prefer to focus on. However, I will need to talk to Katy on this matter and see which animal she wants to focus on other than the wolf.
Finally, I decided to look further into the site and found a section on the challenges the charity faces about reintroducing species to Britain and I thought it would be really helpful to know some of the opposing facts about Rewilding Britain. Rewilding is a long-term ambition and it isn't easy to achieve. For one, many of us have got used to seeing bare hills and the lack of native forests and species, so getting people to get excited about something like this, which would incur radical change isn't easy, especially when most people aren't a huge fan of change. Legal constraints are also one of the biggest barriers the charity faces and these include rules which govern the management of designated conservation sites. These often demand a fierce regime of cutting, burning and grazing to maintain arbitrary assemblage of creatures, yet this results in the maintenance of degraded ecosystems, where significant top predators are absent. The Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 also insists that certain dangerous animals only be released into enclosures, which makes it difficult to re-establish certain species into Britain. The Infrastructure Act 2015 also defines species that have recently become extinct in the UK as non-native and potentially subject to control and destruction. Some other other oppositions include; the danger to livestock; worry of over-crowding; the cost; having dangerous animals roam free is crazy; sport shooting; public perception; farm subsidy system. These are all valid challenges that Rewilding Britain is up against and they are also things Katy and I should consider when relaying information to our audience.
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