The wild bunch... bears and wolves are reunited in woodland paddock
IT IS hundreds of years since bears and wolves last met in a British woodland.
European brown bears are thought to have become extinct in the British wilds in medieval times. Grey wolves, meanwhile, roamed free until the 17th century.
But they are now to coexist in a project called Bear Wood near Bristol. The scheme is part of Bristol Zoological Society’s Wild Place Project and it aims is to give visitors a glimpse into life in the woods and forests that used to cover much of the UK.
It is also intended to initiate a debate about rewilding schemes, which could reintroduce animals such as lynxes.
From Thursday July 25, members of the public will be able to observe bears, wolves, lynxes and wolverines from the safety of a raised walkway as the animals pad and prowl around a wooded paddock.
For the moment, the four species are being kept apart but in weeks or months the four bears and five wolves will be allowed to share a paddock.
Justin Morris, the chief executive of Bristol Zoological Society, said: “It will be the first time the two species have been together in ancient British woodland for more than 1,000 years. We’re excited to see them together in the same space.”
It will then be up to the animal keepers to decide when to allow the wolves in with the bears. “The keepers want to be sure the bears are settled,” said Mr Morris.
“We’re keen to do it as soon as they can but will wait until the animal team are confident they are ready.
“They should be fine. These animals would co-exist in the wild.
“This is their habitat. You see the bears up the trees and realise how perfectly evolved they are to live here.”
They should be fine. These animals would co-exist in the wild.
Justin Morris, the chief executive of Bristol Zoological Society.