Richard Collins: Reintroducing wolves is 'wishful thinking'

The benefits of reintroducing apex predators, at least in the United States, have been exaggerated, the authors of a recently published study claim

Fourteen wolves were released into Yellowstone National Park in the US in 1995. Picture: iStock

Wolves were hunted to extinction in Yellowstone National Park in the US; the last ones perished in 1926. Then park managers had a change of heart; ‘come back wolves, all is forgiven’. Fourteen Canadian greys were released into the Park in 1995 and a further 17 were introduced the following year.

Their fortunes in the land of Old Faithful have featured prominently in the media ever since. A television programme, entitled How Wolves Change Rivers, has been viewed over 43m times.