Why do some people want to introduce wolves to Scotland

A.� Some scientists have called for the reintroduction of wolves to Scotland as a means of curbing the spiralling population of red deer. The deer, which since the disappearance of the wolf have no natural predator, number around 300,000, of which 70,000 have to be culled each year.

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Q.� Re-introduction, so wolves once lived in Britain

A.� Yes, there were once several thousands wolves roaming the British Isles until the last one was killed in 1740.

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Q.� Why are red dear a problem

A.� Because they destroy attempts to regenerate native forests by grazing on the new shoots.

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Q.� And so wolves would keep their numbers down

A.� Yes and hopefully boost tourism numbers. Scientists argue that as well as managing the deer population the wolves would attract extra visitors to Scotland for wolf watching.

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Q.� Sounds good, what's the problem

A.� Sheep farmers. Scottish National Heritage did consider re-establishing carefully controlled colonies of wolves, but had to back down after the farmers voiced concerns over the wolves attacking and killing lambs and sheep.

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Q.� Well the wolves would wouldn't they

A.� Hopefully there are so many deer to hunt that the wolves wouldn't really bother with sheep, however there's a very good chance that some livestock would be attacked.

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In other European countries were wolves have been re-introduced to control deer populations the government has had to set up a compensation package for farmers that loose sheep to wolves.

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Q.� What about humans

A.� Forget Little Red Riding Hood scenarios, our fear of wolves is disproportionate and the risk of being attacked by one is minimal.

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Q.� Are there plans to reintroduce any other extinct animals

A.� Yes, some scientists think that along with wolves we should re-introduce beavers, lynx, elk, wild boar and bears to redress an imbalance in our ecology.

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Q.� Imbalance

A.� Yes, in Britain we have one of the smallest proportions of natural mammal populations in the world with large numbers of introduced species, like the rabbit.

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It all makes for a very unbalanced food chain. In Britain we have an unusually high number of smaller predators, like foxes and kestrels, and only a couple of suitably sized prey species to support them. A re-introduction of larger predators like wolves and lynxes would even things out.

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by Lisa Cardy