Have your say on plan to bring back wildlife
Wildlife declines could be reversed in Cornwall. Locals are being asked for input, reports Philip Bowern
HANDS up if you’d like to see the red squirrel reintroduced into the Cornish countryside? Chances are most people would vote enthusiastically for that to happen and one project, the Cornwall Red Squirrel Project, is already working hard to make it a reality.
But what about the European wildcat, or the wild boar? Not everyone might be quite so delighted if those large and potentially dangerous animals were roaming the countryside once more.
That’s why residents in Cornwall are being asked to have their say on whether the county’s lost or threatened wildlife should be reintroduced before Cornwall Council, and any partners it might work with, embark on a programme to bring back lost species.
In an announcement this week – as world leaders debate limiting climate change and saving the natural world – the council in Truro announced that, working with a team of experts, it was exploring the potential to bring back different mammals to the Duchy.
It said the project is focused on six species that were previously native to Cornwall: the water vole, red squirrel, pine marten, Eurasian beaver, wild boar and European wildcat. Some have disappeared altogether while others – like the water vole and red squirrel – still have a foothold in other parts of the UK, and in some cases are being given a helping hand by schemes already in place.
The council say the aim is to investigate the benefits and challenges that reintroducing these species might have on the local environment, Cornwall’s communities and businesses. It will, they say, help to inform the Duchy’s emerging ‘nature recovery strategy’ and ongoing work with local partners and landowners.
Cllr Martyn Alvey, Cornwall Council’s Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change, said: “Many of these species lived in the wild here in Cornwall within our lifetimes.
“We really want to hear from residents who have memories of these creatures and to find out whether Cornish communities would like for them to be reintroduced.
‘Reintroductions of lost species provide a story of hope in a time of crisis for nature’ PETE COOPER, ECOLOGIST
“There are no plans at this stage and this is just one of many ways we can restore nature, but the study will help inform the council’s response to the climate and ecological emergency.”
Pete Cooper, an ecologist on the project team, said: “Reintroductions of lost native species provide a story of hope in a time where we are all too aware of the crisis facing the natural world.
“Some of the mammals considered in this study have gone extinct relatively recently, such as the water vole and red squirrel, so many residents will have memories of seeing them in Cornwall.
“We are delighted to be assessing the potential factors that would decide if reintroduction should be considered, but it is not a simple process. Ultimately, the decision comes down to those living locally to say whether they want these species back.”
There are always consequences that follow reintroductions. Bringing back red squirrels, most conservationists agree, means reducing or even eradicating the greys, which otherwise out-compete their smaller native cousins and pass on the squirrel pox, which is deadly to reds.
There is also the potential for conflict between people, livestock and pets and the reintroduction of species. Wild boar, for example, are thriving in parts of the UK and there have been instances where they have caused problems for local people, from road traffic accidents to damage to farmland, gardens and even, in extremely isolated cases, coming into conflict with humans and their dogs.
Water voles have been successfully reintroduced in other parts of Britain – but mostly through sustained pressure to take out predators, most notably the American mink which preys on the voles.
Residents are now being invited to share their memories or records of animals that once lived in Cornwall but are now considered extinct.
These could include photographs, stories, videos, artwork, taxidermy or anecdotes. The information supplied by residents will help the team understand the history of these species and their cultural relevance in Cornwall.
Anyone who would like to share their views, or submit their records, can get involved by completing an online survey on the ‘Let’s Talk’ website.
The survey is open until Friday 10th December, 2021.
For further information about the surveys or the Species Reintroductions Feasibility Study, please contact Cornwall Council at grownature@cornwall.gov.uk.