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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment

Let nature help tackle an ecological disaster

George Monbiot
Wolves in Yellowstone national park, Wyoming, US.
Wolves have helped the ecosystem in Yellowstone national park, Wyoming, US. Photograph: gnagel/Getty Images/iStockphoto

George Monbiot (Britain’s surging deer population is causing an ecological disaster. I have a solution: wolves, 11 August) proposes the reintroduction of wolves to control escalating numbers of deer, which are degrading natural habitats by overgrazing. This approach has been dramatically successful in Yellowstone national park in the US.

I am, however, puzzled that he doesn’t mention that other great degrader of upland habitats – sheep. Clearly, wolves and sheep don’t mix well. However, if we are serious about rewilding, and also about switching to plant-based diets, as I believe we must, sheep will have to go from upland Britain. This will save a fortune in subsidy and I for one would not mourn their passing. It was the introduction of sheep that led to the horrors of the Scottish Highland clearances.
Christian Murray-Leslie
Melbourne, Derbyshire

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