Wolves were once present all over the British Isles. In fact according to early Roman and Saxon chronicles they were extraordinarily numerous on the island and seemed to be unaffected by island dwarfism, like other British animals...
Wolves were once present all over the British Isles. In fact according to early Roman and Saxon chronicles they were extraordinarily numerous on the island and seemed to be unaffected by island dwarfism, like other British animals. Skeletal remains indicate that they were as large as Arctic wolves and were a threat to livestock and people. They often desecrated burial sites and were brought to extinction through active hunting and deforestation. One of the last wolves killed in Britain was in Sutherland in 1743. It was hunted down after two youngsters on their way home to their croft were attacked by the animal. Both later died from their injuries In 1999 Dr. Martyn Gorman a senior lecturer of zoology called for the reintroduction of wolves to the Scottish highlands in order to deal with the burgeoning population of red deer damaging young trees in commercial forests. Although wolves have been successfully reintroduced across huge chunks of Europe, they are still a nuisance to farmers who have since had hundreds of sheep savaged by the animals, or driven off cliffs in panic while being stalked by wolves. The idea was therefore shelved in the United Kingdom after an outcry by sheep farmers. The idea has since been raised again and again by wealthy land owners and researchers. Those who are pro wolves being reintroduced argue that it would boost tourism and be a more effective way of culling deer. The threat they could be to farmer and crofters has however meant that they have not yet been reintroduced. The idea of staying in one of UK Golf Holidays in the country and looking out of your hotel window to find a pack of wolves running across a hill side, or merely picking one of the Blackpool Hotel Deals, knowing that you might also see one of these magnificent creatures sounds wonderful. A single human attack might however change all of that.
Adrian Fisher is a London-based freelance journalist with a mission to make you a better and happier human being. Drawing attention to the peculiarities of life in the modern age is all part of the package.Check out his other articles for everything you need to know about travel destinations.
