Wolves in the park plan salvaged
By Cameron Simpson in the Herald, 19 th July 2000
HOWLS of disbelief yesterday greeted a laird's suggestion
that wolf packs should be kept in Glasgow Green and fed on dead bodies.
The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said Dr Jamie Williamson's proposal was "totally crackers" while Glasgow City Council favoured the description "ludicrous".
The Scottish landowner suggested the wolf packs should be kept in city parks and fed on dead bodies that otherwise would be cremated after being angered by plans to reintroduce the rapacious member of the dog family to the Highlands.
The laird with a PhD in forestry came up with the bizarre alternative after claiming it was not practical to have wolves in the region because they would kill livestock on farms and estates and scare away tourists.
The owner of 13,000-acre Alvie Estate, near Aviemore, Inverness-shire, says he has nothing against wolves but he does not want them near his animals. He has 840 sheep on the estate which has been in his family since 1927.
He suggested that they should be let loose in places such as Glasgow Green, Regent's Park, or Clapham Common where there is no livestock, and be fed dead bodies which are due to be cremated.
Dr Williamson said: "Wolves are natural scavengers and would love to eat corpses.
"In the middle ages they feasted on dead human bodies after battles and there is no reason they cannot do that now.
"We have a problem about what to do with dead bodies and that is why they have to be cremated which is not environmentally friendly because of the fumes which emanate into the air.
"My plan would cut down air pollution and allow the wolves to prosper without affecting the farming population."
Dr Williamson's radical idea comes as a leading conservationist unveiled plans to reintroduce packs of wolves to the Highlands.
Wildlife expert Derek Gow is currently working on a breeding project at the Wildwood Centre in Kent and is in the process of contacting landowners and conservation bodies in the Highlands to outline his plans.
Mr Gow will face strong opposition to his initiative but he says that wolves are misunderstood beasts and he intends to raise public awareness about them.
He is embarking on a tour of schools and colleges with two cubs, Nadja and Mishka, who were hand-reared and are perfectly tame.
He said: "Wolves belong in wilderness areas like the Highlands. They pose no threat to humans whatsoever."
However, Dr Williamson said: "It is hard enough to make a living on estates as it is without adding a predator to the equation. At the very least we would have to be compensated for every sheep killed by a wolf."
Last night a spokeswoman for the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said: "Any self-respecting wolf would howl at the moon at Dr Williamson's suggestion.
"The society would be happy to work with other agencies if it is decided to reintroduce wolves to the Highlands."
A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: "This is a ludicrous suggestion from someone who should know better. Clearly he knows nothing about Glasgow or Glasgow Green. Perhaps he should be put to the wolves."
Scottish Natural Heritage has stated that it would not consider introducing any carnivorous species without the support of people who would be affected.
© The Herald, 19 th July, 2000
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