Bring back wolves call
Ecologists are calling for wolves to be reintroduced to the Scottish Highlands for the first time in 250 years.
A new Royal Society study says wolves could help to rejuvenate the Highlands, by controlling deer and helping to recreate forests.
Some estimates suggest up to 500,000 deer could be roaming the hills, and in many areas they are perilously close to the land's natural "carrying capacity".
Eleanor Milner-Gulland said: "Reintroducing wolves would significantly reduce the need for expensive culling, and the resulting decline in deer numbers would lead to a marked increase in plant and birdlife biodiversity, and reforesting the area would be easier too."
The study estimates that up to 500 wolves could be released across the Highlands, allowing up to 25 wolves a territory of about 1,000 sq km.
It would, the authors admit, be deeply unpopular with farmers and rural pet owners. Hill walkers could also feel nervous, but the academics claim there is tentative public support.
The report was backed by Trees for Life, which is planning to plant 100,000 native trees this year as part of its programme to rebuild the ancient Caledonian forest.
Alan Watson Featherstone, its executive director, said the the biggest obstacle would be the bad public image of the wolf.
"The wolf probably has the worst public image of any large animal on the planet, fed by children's fairy tale stories like the Three Little Pigs and Little Red Riding Hood, which is exacerbated by Hollywood movies about werewolves.
"They have a very, very bad PR problem. People think they're a real threat, but that's just not true," he said.
Ecologists are calling for wolves to be reintroduced to the Scottish Highlands for the first time in 250 years.
A new Royal Society study says wolves could help to rejuvenate the Highlands, by controlling deer and helping to recreate forests.
Some estimates suggest up to 500,000 deer could be roaming the hills, and in many areas they are perilously close to the land's natural "carrying capacity".
Eleanor Milner-Gulland said: "Reintroducing wolves would significantly reduce the need for expensive culling, and the resulting decline in deer numbers would lead to a marked increase in plant and birdlife biodiversity, and reforesting the area would be easier too."
The study estimates that up to 500 wolves could be released across the Highlands, allowing up to 25 wolves a territory of about 1,000 sq km.
It would, the authors admit, be deeply unpopular with farmers and rural pet owners. Hill walkers could also feel nervous, but the academics claim there is tentative public support.
The report was backed by Trees for Life, which is planning to plant 100,000 native trees this year as part of its programme to rebuild the ancient Caledonian forest.
Alan Watson Featherstone, its executive director, said the the biggest obstacle would be the bad public image of the wolf.
"The wolf probably has the worst public image of any large animal on the planet, fed by children's fairy tale stories like the Three Little Pigs and Little Red Riding Hood, which is exacerbated by Hollywood movies about werewolves.
"They have a very, very bad PR problem. People think they're a real threat, but that's just not true," he said.
However as soon as the Wolf