Opportunities for reintroducing British mammals

Abstract There is good evidence that die three rarer British predatory mammals, the Polecat, Pine Marten and Wild Cat, owe their present restricted distribution to intense human persecution. Since this persecution has now diminished considerably, it would be feasible to attempt to reintroduce them to parts of Britain where they were exterminated last century. More important, however, would be attempts to reintroduce mammals which became totally extinct in historic times, including Aurochs, Boar, Brown Bear, Beaver and Wolf. The last of these survived the longest, and is a prime candidate for consideration. There are good ecological reasons for attempting to reintroduce it to Rhum, where the large herd of Red Deer has to be culled by one sixth each year in an attempt to reduce overgrazing and starvation. Evidence of studies in North America suggests that Wolf predation would be a far more efficient way of controlling the Red Deer; and it would be more in keeping with the management objectives of a National Nature Reserve. Similarly an attempt should be made to use genetically ‘reconstituted’ Tarpan and Aurochs to diversify the grazing, rather than domestic ponies and cattle.