Alright, so get this – there’s a new project in town that’s all about bringing back the European elk to the UK. Yeah, you heard that right. After successfully reintroducing beavers back into the wild in England, the Rewilding Britain project is now setting its sights on these majestic creatures that went extinct in the UK about 3,000 years ago.
What’s the deal with this project, you ask? Well, Rewilding Britain is shelling out some serious cash through its Rewilding Innovation Fund to make it happen. The Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trusts are teaming up to bring not only the European elk but also bison and beaver back to the wild in England. And guess what? They’re each getting up to 15,000 pounds (which is around $19,918) to make it all possible.
Why all the fuss about bringing back these animals, you wonder? According to Rebecca Wrigley, the big boss at Rewilding Britain, these keystone species like elk, bison, and beaver are crucial for reviving nature. They help fix up ecosystems, shape wild places, and basically make life better for everyone – wildlife, people, and even the climate. So yeah, it’s kind of a big deal.
Now, let’s talk elk. These big guys like to hang out in wooded areas and chow down in wetlands, which actually helps ecosystems bounce back. They munch on leaves, twigs, and submerged vegetation, spreading seeds and keeping things in check. And here’s a fun fact – elk and beavers used to be native to the UK, but they disappeared ages ago because of hunting and habitat loss. But now, thanks to projects like this one, they might just make a comeback. Cool, right?
