Latest news with #JaniceBradley
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Wildlife experts announce bold plan to bring back species lost for 3,000 years: 'I'd like to see them sooner rather than later'
Efforts to bring elk back to the United Kingdom are advancing. The Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire wildlife trusts secured £15,000 ($20,190) in funding from Rewilding Britain to begin feasibility studies, the BBC reported. Their goal? Reintroduce elk to the East Midlands, where they once roamed freely before hunters drove them to extinction about 3,000 years ago. Elk are impressive not only because of their features and size. They're also effective landscapers of nature. These massive creatures help shape entire ecosystems. They clear out dense vegetation as they graze. When elk wander through wetlands and grasslands, they act like a groundskeeping crew that controls overgrowth and creates clearer pathways for smaller animals. NWT's Janice Bradley noted that elk may have roamed through the Trent wetlands, making them native to the woods and the local landscape. Experts hope to bring them back to these grasslands to fulfill their role in improving habitats for other animals. She also said that while it may take time for the public to get used to the idea of elk returning to the area, they encourage people to engage and get excited. "But I'd like to see them sooner rather than later," she shared, per BBC. The initiative to reintroduce rare species and extinct wildlife isn't new. U.K. conservationists have already seen some success with rewilding projects. In Wales, marsh fritillary butterflies have made a comeback. Meanwhile, efforts by rewilding groups helped water voles thrive in the Welsh uplands after decades of absence. Bringing beavers back to the U.K. wetlands has also shown great results. In Dorset, reintroduced wild beavers created new habitats for other animals and helped reduce floods. The same positive changes occurred in Hampshire. Reintroducing elk to the U.K. is a bold move. However, if it works, it will add balance to the environment, benefiting plants, animals, and nearby communities. A healthy ecosystem means cleaner air and water, as well as a stronger connection to nature. Support biodiversity by planting native species at home to rewild your yard. Should the U.S. invest in building more wildlife overpasses? Absolutely Depends on how we do it Depends on where we do it Nope Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
BBC News
13-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Re-wilding Wildlife: After 3,000 years Elk could return to the UK
After being extinct in the wild in the UK for 3,000 years, Elk could be making a return. Wildlife Trusts are hoping to reintroduce the species into Britain again as part of a rewilding project. Derbyshire Wildlife Trust wants to introduce elk into two existing beaver enclosures in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. The hope is then that the animals will be able to be released to roam free in the wild. What is an elk? Elk are part of the deer family, in fact they are the second largest species within the family. They are much, much larger than most deer, and can exceed more than 500kg in weight - that's about the same as a small car like a Fiat 500!Elk thrive in wetlands, and also help the environment there through grazing and trampling. The animals are regarded as "keystone" species which means they help to create and maintain habitats for other species. How will reintroducing them work? As when beavers were first brought back into the UK, the plan is for the elk to be first be released into enclosures in wildlife areas. Janice Bradley, from Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust said: "Initially our elk and beavers would be in the same enclosure, bringing them back together in the UK for the first time in 3,000 because elk prefer big, complex wetland habitats, eventually we would be looking at elk along the Trent valley.""They would very much stay in those habitats, they wouldn't be roaming across roads like deer, but that's a very long way away yet." When did elk go extinct in the UK and why? Elk became extinct in the UK about 3,000 years ago due to over-hunting and also the loss of the forest environments where they only did they go extinct here but they also were nearly wiped out across Europe. However today Elk are widely distributed across Asia and in Europe they are already found in Poland and the Scandinavian countries, but are expanding westward.
The Independent
12-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
Elk could return to UK after 3,000 years in new rewilding plan
Elk could return to the UK for the first time in around 3,000 years as part of an ambitious rewilding plan for the East Midlands. The Rewilding Britain charity has given the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Wildlife Trusts £15,000 in funding for feasibility studies into returning the animals to the wild. Despite once being widespread across the country, European elk were hunted to extinction in the Neolithic era, but wildlife experts hope to reintroduce them to their natural habitat. Janice Bradley, from Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust (NWT), told the BBC: "They are one of our lost species. "They used to roam all over the place, through lots of different habitats, throughout the UK. "They would have roamed through the wetlands of the Trent, in and out of reed beds and pools, woods and grasslands, so they are native and were lost due to hunting, probably by Neolithic people, and we think they should be brought back to fulfil their role in optimising habitats for other wildlife." She added, however, that one of the biggest challenges was allowing the public to get used to the idea that elk should be returned to the countryside. The team behind the project hope that the successful reintroduction of beavers can work as a guide, with the first two pairs released into a Dorset nature reserve in March. The new funding to help reintroduce elk will pay for a disease risk assessment, while 2,000 households have also been consulted and landowners informed of the plans. "Initially our elk and beavers would be in same enclosure, bringing them back together in the UK for the first time in 3,000 years," Ms Bradley said. "But because elk prefer to be in those big, complex wetland habitats, eventually we would be looking at elk along the Trent valley. "They would very much stay in those habitats, they wouldn't be roaming across roads like deer, but that's a very long way away yet.' A project to reintroduce bison to the south of England has also been awarded funding. Rebecca Wrigley, the chief executive of Rewilding Britain, said: 'Keystone species like elk, bison and beaver play a vital role in bringing nature back to life. They help repair ecosystems and shape wild places in ways that benefit wildlife, people and the climate. 'Successfully reintroducing missing species like these is absolutely crucial. It's a complex process involving multiple stages of research and development, feasibility studies, impact assessments and community consultations. By taking the time and effort to get it right, we can create a more hopeful future for everyone.'
BBC News
12-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Project aims to return 'keystone' elk to UK after 3,000 years
Wildlife experts are "very excited" at the prospect of bringing back elks to the East Midlands - and to the UK - for the first time in about 3,000 Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Wildlife Trusts have secured £15,000 of funding from the Rewilding Britain charity to begin feasibility studies into their animals are regarded as "keystone" species which can create and maintain habitats for diverse other Bradley, from Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust (NWT), said one of the major challenges was getting the public used to the idea that elk "should be here". European elk were originally widespread in Britain but were hunted to extinction in the Neolithic Bradley, head of nature recovery (north), said: "They are one of our lost species. "They used to roam all over the place, through lots of different habitats, throughout the UK."They would have roamed through the wetlands of the Trent, in and out of reed beds and pools, woods and grasslands, so they are native and were lost due to hunting, probably by Neolithic people, and we think they should be brought back to fulfil their role in optimising habitats for other wildlife." The new funding will pay for a disease risk assessment, to study whether reintroduced elk would bring infections to existing livestock or vice Bradley thinks the successful reintroduction of beavers could be a good guide to the new project."We consulted with 2,000 households to say what was going on," she said."We would intend to do the same with elk, to inform residents and let them know what we are doing."But also helpfully get people excited and engaged."And engaging with landowners is very, very important part of any of the next steps."One of the first challenges is getting people used to the idea these animals are native to this country and they should be back here." An average adult moose stands between 4ft 7in and 6ft 11in (1.4m to 2.1m) high at the shoulder and can weigh from 380kg to 700 kg (838 to 1,543 lb).Does Ms Bradley believe such animals can be brought back to the UK and allowed into the wild?"Initially our elk and beavers would be in same enclosure, bringing them back together in the UK for the first time in 3,000 years," she said."But because elk prefer to be in those big, complex wetland habitats, eventually we would be looking at elk along the Trent valley."They would very much stay in those habitats, they wouldn't be roaming across roads like deer, but that's a very long way away yet."But I'd like to see them sooner rather than later."
