h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

>>... but sport isn't one of them<<

I'm glad to hear there is a move to reintroduce wolves into the wild in the UK. Not only because they are very cool in their own right, but also because it will mean that people have to take the wilderness seriously again.

The UK is fortunate in the respect that wolves exist elsewhere. A huge number of now extinct NZ species were endemic to here and can't be replaced from elsewhere. I think Australia is the same (alot of species evolved in geographical isolation).

I'm not sure we have 'wilderness' exactly. Once upon a time, it was pretty much all trees - even the Highlands of Scotland (which most UK residents who have seen a bit of the U.K. would think of as the nearest to 'wilderness' we get) were densely wooded at some point.

Wilderness in this context means uncultivated and unaffected by external influences except the natural forces of nature. That can include moorland, grassland, mountains or forests. Once upon a time, the whole of the British Isles were covered by forest. The trees have gradually been cut down to make room for agriculture. This is a process that started in the Iron age, even before the Romans set foot in these islands.

The Highlands of Scotland is one area that has been least affected by this process and is a prime candidate for returning it to its wilderness state. Introducing wolves would help control the deer population which is beginning to get out of control. Culling wouldn’t be necessary as the wolf would do it naturally.

Sheep would be eliminated which is not a problem as sheep farming in the highlands is not as economic as it used to be. Australia and New Zealand do it far more effectively, not to mention Wales of course. You might even see the return of that other natural habitant of the highlands that was forcibly evicted, homo sapiens.

Donald