Alladale Estate applies for zoo licence

By Caroline McMorran
Published: 17 December, 2009

CONTROVERSIAL plans by Alladale Estate owner Paul Lister to introduce wolves to a wilderness reserve already established on his land, have taken a major step forward.

Alladale Wilderness Reserve manager Hugh Fullerton-Smith this week publicly announced his intention to apply to the local authority for a zoo licence.

European elk and wild boar are already roaming in enclosures on the 23,000 acres estate, located near Ardgay. And, if the zoo licence is granted, then wildcat and wolves - not seen in the wild in Scotland for thousands of years - could be added to their number.

The move is expected to raise enormous concerns locally.

Both Mr Lister and Mr Fullerton-Smith were out of the country and unavailable for comment this week. They are expected to return to Alladale next week.

But Highland Council officials confirmed that they had received a "Notice of Intention" from Alladale Wilder-ness Reserve as required under the Zoo Licencing Act 1981. That Notice of Intention is now also available for members of the public to read.

Golspie based environmental health officer Andy Hirst said: "I think this is a once in a lifetime situation and I certainly have never experienced this type of application before."

Millionaire businessman Paul Lister, son of the co-founder of the MFI furniture chain Noel Lister, bought Alladale Estate, which covers five glens and two river systems, in 2003.

Shortly afterwards he announced plans to create a wilderness reserve.

He has since invested massive sums towards achieving his aim of introducing Scotland's so-called "big five" to the estate - grey wolves, brown bear, lynx, boar and bison.

Two years ago the estate successfully applied for a Dangerous Wild Animal Licence to introduce European elk and wild boar into specially constructed enclosures.

And now Mr Lister and Mr Fullerton Smith are apparently ready to take their plans a step further and introduce wolves and wildcats.

In background papers lodged with the local authority, estate manager Mr Fullerton-Smith states: "The Alladale Wilderness Reserve facility will be unlike any present conventional UK zoo, both in types of enclosures it uses and ways in which only a limited number of resident visitors and environmental education groups will view the animals."

According to the papers, it is intended to introduce three European wolves and eight European wildcats onto the estate along with another six wild boar and two elk.

The animals will be housed in three separate fenced areas each of which will contain animal accommodation, management facilities and service buildings. The highest fence - a two-metre high deer fence - will surround the European elk enclosure. The wolves will be fed on a range of "natural" carcasses and game off-cuts.

Only guests staying at Alladale will be allowed on to the wilderness reserve. The maximum number of visitors on the reserve will be limited to 35, although school parties are expected to increase that number to around 70 on some days.

The papers state: "Visitor access to the wolf enclosure will be from the service road through a locked gate and along a fenced footpath and across a bridge to a roofed viewing area."

Meanwhile Highland Council officials say that strict procedures will be followed in determining the estate's application, including a public consultation period.

Inverness-based senior animal health officer Gillian Bain said: "The zoo licence regulations are fairly proscriptive in the way they work."

And local environmental health officer Chris Ratter said: "The estate has to follow certain procedures and part of the procedure is to put an advert in a local and national newspaper and also put signs up around the area of Alladale to say that the intention is to apply for a zoo licence."

http://www.northern-times.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/6970/Alladale_Estate_applies_for_zoo_licence.html

(Submitted by Lindsay Selby)