Beavers OK: Wolves No?

Scotland has had some notable successes in rewilding projects and has even been exporting some of the animals to other countries. Francesca Osowska (of NatureScot) has suggested, however, that demands to reintroduce apex predators (like wolves and bears) could damage the needed support for rewilding the British countryside (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/sep/24/reintroducing-wolves-to-uk-could-hit-rewilding-support-expert-says). Farmers and Highland estate managers are often first to express their concerns about reintroductions. Scotland's projects to reintroduce the beaver and the Sea eagle have been very successful. NatureScot have, however, authorised the shooting of beavers accused by farmers of 'damaging' farmland in the Tayside area. More than 200 have now been shot. The National Farmers Union Scotland are also likely to request permission to shoot Sea eagles. It is alledged (although it seems unlikely) that these raptors attack lambs. Evidence for the 'crimes' of animals is often very anecdotal. There is a heady mix with tolerated and non-tolerated species. Some of this merely reflects human taste. Deer numbers are booming in Scotland. This is bad news for attempts to reforest areas of the countryside. Failure to reintroduce apex predators means that a shooting programme (with disturbance) becomes the only option. Areas managed in this way, would really only be semi-rewilded.