Large fenced reserves an effective way to bring wolves back to Scotland

Date:  June 13, 2018

Source:  University of Sussex

Research, led by the University of Sussex and the University of Kent, indicates that for wolves to be effective at directly reducing red deer numbers and allowing nature to recover in the Scottish Highlands they may need to be reintroduced to very large fenced reserve.

A fenced area, which would also help limit encounters with residents, farmers and workers in the Scottish Highlands, would give the reintroduced grey wolf the opportunity to achieve the high population densities (e.g. 80 wolves per 1000 km2) required to directly reduce the very high red deer numbers that are currently create an over-grazing problem in the Highlands.

The current high red deer densities (up to 40 deer/km2) are preventing tree regeneration and ecosystem restoration in parts of Scotland with more than one third of all native woodlands in an unfavourable condition because of herbivore impacts.

Dr Christopher Sandom, lecturer in biology at the University of Sussex with a particular interest in rewilding, said: "Reintroducing the wolf has long been suggested as part of the solution to large red deer populations but there will always be concerns about how wolves interact with people in any rewilding project like this. This research shows that they could actually have an extremely beneficial impact in terms of making the rewilding process more effective."

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How does a tiger cross a fence?

March 2013. There has recently been a debate about fencing some tiger reserves in India - Is it good or bad for wildlife? Whatever the debate, if the fences are no good, the debate is academic.

This tiger was seen and photographed leaping the fence that was built around part of Bandhavgarh National Park. It is thought that some tigers have been injured while negotiating this fence. The photos were sent to us by Satyendra Tiwari of Skay's Camp, prompted by the images we published last week of a lynx and kitten passing through a wildlife fence very easily.

In Africa, a debate has just started about the benefits of fencing in some lion populations for their own protection. A recent study seems to show that lions have a better future if separated from humans by fences - The fence keeps humans out of lion habitat, and vice versa, reducing conflict between the species.

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/tiger-fence.html

Chili Pepper Fences Keep Elephants At Bay

Elephants never forget -- especially about the burning intensity of chili peppers.

And that fiery fact is helping farmers in Tanzania, who are being forced to deal with rebounding elephant populations coming onto their land and eating up their crops.

That's a big problem since the giant pachyderms can eat up to 660 pounds of food a day, according to Newser.

Electric fences have been deemed too dangerous and expensive, but farmers have found good results from a lower-tech solution: chili peppers mixed with engine oil -- a spicy concoction that sticks to fences, even in heavy rain.

"[The elephants] will mull it over and often circle two to three times," farmer Said Longwa, 52, told the Wall Street Journal. "But once they get a real whiff of the chili, they snuffle and sneeze."

Even better: They leave.

Continued:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/16/elephants-chili-pepper-fences_n_1428898.html?ref=weird-news