Animal Re-introduction

Nerin

what animal would you like to see introduced to ireland and why?

It wasn't me!

Apparently there's something of an attempt occurring to reintroduce wild boar at the moment, in Kilkenny somewhere I believe. That should be pretty interesting. My own preference would be for bears, to liven up walking the dog. And on a potentially more serious note, the successful reintroduction of eagles, because they're somewhat incredible.

Nerin

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_extinct_animals_of_the_British_Isles

i like all of this list.
lol "wooly mammoth"
that'd be a great one when your out for a walk

Hendrix89

Wolves for sure. They have a rightful place in Ireland.

Then again bringing them in would almost be like sending them to the slaughter... :mad:

Nerin

true,unfortunately for animal life,we cant build properly.
what i mean is,farmers building fencing the keeps predators out, or building human settlements that keep them out.

peasant

Unless it's bog (and even then) every square millimiter of Irish land belongs to somebody who has some form of commercial interest in it or lives on it

There is no room here for big predators (certainly no natural prey) and you don't want wild boar wrecking the farmland either.

Some nice butterfly or other probably would be ok

Nerin

There is no room here for big predators (certainly no natural prey) and you don't want wild boar wrecking the farmland either.

this thread is a magical fairytale what if,logic need not be applied.
and to be fair poor wolves and bears were here first. and we killed them till they were all dead. cuz there was no room for us. damn wild humans.

Some nice butterfly or other probably would be ok

no one ever suspects the butterfly

i,d like to look over past the forest infront of our house and see a herd of Sauroposeidon.

btw http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sauroposeidon

peasant

well ...in that case ...the Irish Elk

John Griffin

It wasn't me! wrote: »

Apparently there's something of an attempt occurring to reintroduce wild boar at the moment, in Kilkenny somewhere I believe. That should be pretty interesting. My own preference would be for bears, to liven up walking the dog. And on a potentially more serious note, the successful reintroduction of eagles, because they're somewhat incredible.

Golden eagles (Donegal) and white tailed sae eagles (Kerry)are being reintroduced at the moment. The Red Kite is also being introduced to Wicklow, first 30 arrived last summer (I was offical photographer and also collected chicks from the nests in Wales). Golden eagles bred in the wild for the first time in 2007 and 15 Sea eagles were released in Kerry.
Seems there is a move at the moment to illegally reintroduce Wild Boar, with them confirmed in Wicklow and Leitrim and talk of them in Kilkenny also. They'll cause alot of damage once established.
Wolves would sort our rising deer problems but certainly would upset alot of farmers, (and alot of deer:))never goin to happen i'd say.
I would love to reintroduce the Capercaille, but alas we don't have enough of it's habitat left.
By the way we have a new species of deer in Ireland now, Muntjac, confirmed last summer in Wicklow.

Nerin

irish elk would rock

Capercaille? too small.
now this Moa :D

It wasn't me!

Natural predators would have lots of natural prey, in the form of our barely controllable deer stocks. Unfortunately, yes, farming would be endangered grossly.

I knew the eagles were re-introduced, I was expressing a hope that they secure a good foothold and breed well. I'd love to see them become a major feature again.

Didn't know the boar were being illegally introduced. Yeah, they'll do enormous damage, but if they can somehow be kept primarily in preserves, they'd be magnificent, and what a beast to hunt!

Nerin

cotton

Completely off topic, where abouts in wicklow have the red kite been introduced to? I'd love to try to take some photos of them.

tallus

It wasn't me! wrote: »

Didn't know the boar were being illegally introduced. Yeah, they'll do enormous damage, but if they can somehow be kept primarily in preserves, they'd be magnificent, and what a beast to hunt!

I'd say the dogs would get a run for their money.

I would love to see wild eagles myself, such majestic creatures. I saw one in the states in 2005 and it was magnificent.

It wasn't me!

Rifles only for boar I daresay, and big rifles at that... Magnificent beasts they are.

I'd love to see widespread eagles and other big raptors as well. Also wondering where they are in wicklow. Would have to take a drive.

Nerin

again i couldnt resist.

GA361

I'd like the Finnish Lapphund to be introduced cause they are such a nice lookin dog


or the St.John's water dog(too bad they are extinct!

Nerin

those are a fine looking breed.

Our man in Havana

Sadly I can not see egales being successfully re-introduced to Ireland - look what happend to the poor red kites

John Griffin

The reintroduction of Eagles and Kites to Ireland isn't an experiment. Alot of research has been done and they would not be released if it was thought they would not be successful. So far 2 kites have died out of the 30 released, that is considered a sucess. Sure we weren't happy about the shot bird and the one that got poisioned. But things have improved alot since they went extinct over 200 years ago. People now understand the value of these birds and are more tolerant of them. There is nowhere near as much poision being laid now compared to back then. The first golden eagle chick fledged in the wild last year after the first birds were released over 5 years ago. They have been very successful so far. Reintroductions are well planned and researched these days and once they begin they rarely fail. Dumping animals into the wild is not reintroducing. For those that want to see how successful the Kites are, stand on Avoca bridge at dusk and look down river and you will see them flying high, along with Buzzards. The ones with the forked tails are Kites.

fits

John Griffin wrote: »

Seems there is a move at the moment to illegally reintroduce Wild Boar, with them confirmed in Wicklow and Leitrim and talk of them in Kilkenny also..

Penny seriously dropping here...
I saw the rear end of a fleeing animal that I just couldnt figure out a few months ago. It must have been a wild boar. Unbelievable!

I'm delighted with the eagle and red kite reintroductions.

peasant

fits wrote: »

Penny seriously dropping here...
I saw the rear end of a fleeing animal that I just couldnt figure out a few months ago. It must have been a wild boar. Unbelievable!

You were lucky then ...you really don't want to see the front end of a charging wild boar (which they are likely to do when they have young)

fits

peasant wrote: »

You were lucky then ...you really don't want to see the front end of a charging wild boar (which they are likely to do when they have young)

I'm sure my dogs wouldnt need to see that either.

It was at nighttime and I was driving up the road to my house when I saw this animal. It was bugging me for days as to what it was.

Hendrix89

I want to hear more on this wild boar reintroduction that supposedly happened. I can't find any news on it after a lot of searching. This really interests me and support things like this. Even if it is illegal, that doesnt mean jack sh*t tbh. Wild boar have a rightful place in Ireland and don't deserve to be labeled as an invasive species.

By the way if anyone does have any further info on this, just be sure not to let slip any exact locations of the boar as we don't want the gun toters heading off in their direction for spot of 'fun'...

EGAR

I am from a country where Wild Boars roam and I remember many a cold and bright winter nights when they invaded the suburbs and turned over bins in search for food, we kids watched from the safety of the house . Yes, they are magnificent but they are also very dangerous especially when they have young. And they multiply quite fast as well .

NoNameRanger

Hendrix89 wrote: »

I want to hear more on this wild boar reintroduction that supposedly happened. I can't find any news on it after a lot of searching. This really interests me and support things like this. Even if it is illegal, that doesnt mean jack sh*t tbh. Wild boar have a rightful place in Ireland and don't deserve to be labeled as an invasive species.

By the way if anyone does have any further info on this, just be sure not to let slip any exact locations of the boar as we don't want the gun toters heading off in their direction for spot of 'fun'...

Now who do you think is reintroducing the wild boar then??? TBH you know Jack sh*t about it! Hunters are releasing them, no hunter would dare shoot them till such time as there is a sustainable population, that would be counter productive. But hunters will be busy once a population builds up and will be badly needed. You seem to have some serious issues with hunters from what i've read from you in the past, you need to learn a lot about hunting and ecology before making such sweeping statements.
It's illegal thats why your finding very little about it, unlikely there was a press release:), but NPWS know about it, thats why action groups were set up.

These animals will cause untold damage. Why do you think it is illegal for people to release animals at will? Look at the problems we have with deer in this country. Think of the diseases that could be brought with Wild Boar that haven't being tested, e.g. foot and mouth:eek:. Think of the effect to the farming economy. We don't have the habitat for wild boar anymore, our forests are mostly conifer, sure they'd survive alright, on farmers crops!
I'm all for reintroductions but they need to be done professionally and not by people with single agendas or people that think its the right of wild boar to be here, as if the wild boar care.:rolleyes:
I would love to see all extinct species returned to this country, but we have to be real about it too.

peasant

NoNameRanger wrote: »

Now who do you think is reintroducing the wild boar then??? TBH you know Jack sh*t about it! Hunters are releasing them, no hunter would dare shoot them till such time as there is a sustainable population, that would be counter productive. But hunters will be busy once a population builds up and will be badly needed.

Next, the same people that illegally "re-introduced" the wild boar will want to "re-introduce" the old German "Saupacker" type of dog ...so that they can hunt for boar as well. :D:D

NoNameRanger

Seems like some people just love stirring sh*t, turning every thread into an anti hunting debate. Peasant, your a moderator, now would that class as baiting?? and No i'm not referring to setting dogs on animals.

peasant

TBH, NoNameRanger, the hunters are bringin that onto themselves.

Seriously now, illegally "re-introducing" an animal species into this country that poses a huge economical risk for the farming community just so that they may hunt it at a later date, that really takes the biscuit :mad:

All that talk from hunters about how they are an integrated part of rural life ... well, let's see what the affected farmers say when a pack of sows ploughs under a whole crop in one night or if some disease breaks out in farming stocks.

Those idiots that brought the boar in need the book thrown at them, my "sh*t-stirring" should be the least of their worries.

NoNameRanger

Yes, the problem is you seem to be putting all hunters under the one banner. Some fools have got together and done this and yes it was a very stupid move. But it doesn't mean that every other hunter should suffer that mistake. If that was the case it would be so easy, all i'd have to do is prosecute every hunter.
I work with hunters every day and they are not bad people, they do a service for farmers and thats the truth of it and of course they enjoy it, it's only natural they would enjoy it.
But like in all walks of life there are some serious bad apples among them too, those that exploit it and who don't care about conservation and will kill for the sake of killing. It needs to be understood that hunting is needed in our countryside to maintain it.
It's like saying all limerick city people are scum because of the few bad apples that make the news, it's just not correct!

peasant

You are of course correct in what you're saying there.

You must also understand that I have no objection to hunting in general, as long as it's done properly and correctly.

But idiocy like that just makes my blood boil and there really is no defence for it.

Nerin

lol this is starting to turn into a pro/anti hunting thread!!!:eek:
nonameranger, you are right in saying they'll be destructive. if hunters are doing it(illega re-intro),they're being really stupid.

again,this is fantasy thread,what would you "in a perfect world like to see in ireland".

to get back on topic, i'd love love to see alot more otters around.
thats a serious one, now dor a fantasy one


lol freshwater plesiosaur. can just imagine people freaking out up at blessinton lakes muhahahhaaha

NoNameRanger

peasant wrote: »

You are of course correct in what you're saying there.

You must also understand that I have no objection to hunting in general, as long as it's done properly and correctly.

But idiocy like that just makes my blood boil and there really is no defence for it.

It pisses me off when people abuse hunting and bring it into disrepute. I see it everyday of the week but i don't allow it to tarnish my view of any other hunters and i don't get personal about it with anybody. I don't ever think i will find the people that did the damage on this forum and therefore i will achieve nothing by attacking the guys here, who for the most part i see as being very genuine about what they are doing and i support them when they are right and have no problem saying when they are wrong.

peasant

Nerin
I think you will find that there are quite a few otters about. I've seen about five of them in the last three years without ever looking for them or going out of my way ...just walking the dogs or sea fishing.

Nerin

Peasant
where is that?thats great news, lovely little fellows. we had a few were i live when i was a baby, but pollution in the rivers got rid of them, but the place as been cleaned up in the last few years and there have been people saying they could make a comeback now.

fits

nerin wrote: »

Peasant
where is that?thats great news, lovely little fellows. we had a few were i live when i was a baby, but pollution in the rivers got rid of them, but the place as been cleaned up in the last few years and there have been people saying they could make a comeback now.

I saw an otter two weeks ago near Glendalough. I agree that they are lovely.

Nerin

i live at the bottom of the mountains
hope the little guys do return around my place, i've seen them a bit further away and just love them.
the land around us has a lot of potential for alot of wildlife.
the deer have been around alot the last few years.
the pheasant population seems to be very stable here too,no matter where i walk i usually come across one

peasant

nerin wrote: »

Peasant
where is that?

That's in and around Sligo bay, where they alternate between the sea and local rivers.

fits

nerin wrote: »

i live at the bottom of the mountains
hope the little guys do return around my place, i've seen them a bit further away and just love them.

I'm sure they will. They are quite shy, I was surprised to see that otter when out walking my dogs.

the land around us has a lot of potential for alot of wildlife.
the deer have been around alot the last few years.
the pheasant population seems to be very stable here too,no matter where i walk i usually come across one

Too many deer around imo. The pheasants could possibly be there as a result of shooting syndicates releasing them. Theres a lot of that in the area.

peasant

I have pheasants quite regularly traipsing through my front "garden", hens with chicks and all ...

They use it as a shortcut to get to one field from another.

They don't dare go round the back ...that's where the dogs are. So they literally walk past my front door.

Nerin

we had venison on saturday evening stepdads friend gave us it,my mam cooked it perfectly, so thats one less deer for you to worry about
theres usually 1 female and 1 calf every year that comes down here, wonder if its the same female that uses our place...
there was a huge old male,very impressive to see him.

fits

nerin wrote: »

we had venison on saturday evening stepdads friend gave us it,my mam cooked it perfectly, so thats one less deer for you to worry about .

I'm actually a nervous wreck letting one of my dogs (saluki x) off the leash as he is very deer oriented and they seem to be everywhere nowadays.... my other dog broke his leg chasing one last February.

Nerin

haha peasant thats brilliant, my mother told me about a female pheasant we used to have living in the back of our garden when i was a baby. sad her and the chicks would come near enough the back door and all hahaha
anyone know if peacocks are successful in the wild, i doubt it although when i was 12 my friend brought me up to an old ruined shed and there were several peacocks/hens living there, supposedly they had come here from an estate a mile away that used to keep them.

peasant

What's even funnier is that our cats are scared stiff !

Whenever they see pheasants approching, they come running inside...must have had a run in with them once.

Nerin

i remember just after we got my cat Oz, there was terrible commotion in the garden,and when we went out he was dragging a young male pheasant twice his size into the garden by his neck. That cat of mine can be vicious.

just saw this, if only it was real :

lightening

I have only seen two otters in my life. However, I had a baby seal actually surf beside me on a wave I was riding on a long board. Amazing, really curious little dude surfing the wave looking up at me.

Nerin

damned double post.
Seal surfing?! i love it!

Nerin

although i'd prefer this if it was real




one of these




one of these


and one of these



i bet you're all happy im not god

hadook

nerin wrote: »

i remember just after we got my cat Oz, there was terrible commotion in the garden,and when we went out he was dragging a young male pheasant twice his size into the garden by his neck. That cat of mine can be vicious.

Ha! A bird is nothing. My cat JD brought home a Rottie pup a few years back. He liberated it from inside the house of a nearby stud farm (opened two doors - caught on cctv) and bullied it back to our house, across 3 fields. The pitiful puppy screams alerted us and we came out to find a 5 month old Rottie puppy cowering on the back doorstep being belted by the cat if he so much as looked like he was planning to move.

The cat stealing the pedigree puppy was the talk of the neighbourhood for months afterwards. That dog was petrified of cats for his entire lifetime.

I think JD should be cloned and introduced to the wild That'd deal with the wild boar problem

It wasn't me!

A 5 month old dog? That'd be almost as big as it's ever going to get, no?

WindSock

nerin wrote: »

irish elk would rock

Capercaille? too small.
now this Moa :D

The Moa was never in Ireland. It couldn't have been further from here