Project aims to return 'keystone' elk to UK

Wildlife experts are filled with excitement about a new project that aims to reintroduce elk to the East Midlands and the UK for the first time in approximately 3,000 years. The Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Wildlife Trusts have successfully secured £15,000 in funding from the Rewilding Britain charity to conduct feasibility studies regarding the return of these magnificent creatures. Elk are considered 'keystone' species, meaning they play a crucial role in creating and maintaining habitats that support a variety of other wildlife. Janice Bradley, a representative from the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, emphasized that one of the significant challenges ahead is helping the public understand that elk are animals that should naturally inhabit this region. Elk have the potential to play a vital role in preserving wetland habitats, which are essential for many other species. Historically, European elk were once widespread across Britain but were hunted to extinction during the Neolithic era. Ms. Bradley, who is the head of nature recovery in the northern region, stated, 'They are one of our lost species. They used to roam all over the place, through lots of different habitats, throughout the UK. ' She believes that bringing elk back will help restore the balance of nature and optimize habitats for other wildlife. The new funding will be used to assess the risk of diseases that reintroduced elk might bring to existing livestock or vice versa. Ms. Bradley thinks that the successful reintroduction of beavers in parts of the UK can serve as a valuable guide for this new project. 'We consulted with 2,000 households to inform them about what was happening,' she explained. 'We plan to do the same with elk, to keep residents informed and engaged. It is also crucial to involve landowners in the next steps of the project. ' One of the initial challenges is to help people understand that these animals are native to the UK and that they should be welcomed back. Elk are large animals, and they can pose a significant risk to motorists if they wander onto roads. The average Eurasian elk, which is closely related to the American moose, stands between 1. 4 meters and 2. 1 meters tall at the shoulder and can weigh anywhere from 380 kg to 700 kg. When asked if she believes that elk can be successfully reintroduced to the UK and allowed to roam freely in the wild, Ms. Bradley responded, 'Initially, our elk and beavers would be in the same enclosure, bringing them back together in the UK for the first time in 3,000 years. ' She added that since elk prefer to inhabit large, complex wetland areas, they would eventually be found along the Trent valley. 'They would stay in those habitats and would not be wandering across roads like deer, but that is still a long way off. I would like to see them back sooner rather than later.