Heym SR20
Well-Known Member
Personally we should have big predators in the UK. Controversial, yes, but in the modern world, I think we need to learn to live with nature.
Large predators keep the numbers of small predators in check, therefore there is probably less predatory burden.
Crows, badgers, pine martens are getting a bad rap for nesting birds etc. They do take such birds, but wild birds evolve with a predatory burden. Our song birds, ground nesting birds are not struggling because of predators. Much much greater effect is modern agriculture, reduction in biodiversity and complete loss of insect life etc, which underpin all those populations.
Take Blue Tits. A pair of Blue Tits need 2 chicks to get to breeding adult hood to keep population stable. They will typically have two clutches of half a dozen or more eggs a year. If there is not the insect life to support such intensity of reproduction any predation has a huge effect.
As for livestock - cattle / sheep etc, in the UK we have completely forgotten about animal husbandry. Sheep stick them out on the open moor and round them up a in Autumn and bring them to the in bye land for the winter. Most other parts of the world sheep are grazed in flocks with a shepherd moving them from one bit of grazing to another - the grazing is properly grazed and the sheep do well. Ditto for cattle.
In this modern world of AI and robots, mankind is going need something to do and looking after livestock is probably one of the few jobs that cannot by AI - albeit robotic milking is already widespread.
With predators there also needs to be clear rules of engagement - not complete protection, but there needs to be the ability to manage problem animals in a way that predators do keep their distance.
However in the British Isles, very few seem to be able to take a long term holistic view on life. Every is about me, today and sod the rest or the future.
Large predators keep the numbers of small predators in check, therefore there is probably less predatory burden.
Crows, badgers, pine martens are getting a bad rap for nesting birds etc. They do take such birds, but wild birds evolve with a predatory burden. Our song birds, ground nesting birds are not struggling because of predators. Much much greater effect is modern agriculture, reduction in biodiversity and complete loss of insect life etc, which underpin all those populations.
Take Blue Tits. A pair of Blue Tits need 2 chicks to get to breeding adult hood to keep population stable. They will typically have two clutches of half a dozen or more eggs a year. If there is not the insect life to support such intensity of reproduction any predation has a huge effect.
As for livestock - cattle / sheep etc, in the UK we have completely forgotten about animal husbandry. Sheep stick them out on the open moor and round them up a in Autumn and bring them to the in bye land for the winter. Most other parts of the world sheep are grazed in flocks with a shepherd moving them from one bit of grazing to another - the grazing is properly grazed and the sheep do well. Ditto for cattle.
In this modern world of AI and robots, mankind is going need something to do and looking after livestock is probably one of the few jobs that cannot by AI - albeit robotic milking is already widespread.
With predators there also needs to be clear rules of engagement - not complete protection, but there needs to be the ability to manage problem animals in a way that predators do keep their distance.
However in the British Isles, very few seem to be able to take a long term holistic view on life. Every is about me, today and sod the rest or the future.
