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Elk Return: Nottinghamshire Wetlands Could Soon Roam Again
4 Jan
Summary
- Elk, extinct in the UK for 3,000 years, are planned for reintroduction.
- Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trusts secured funding for feasibility studies.
- A disease risk assessment is a crucial step before reintroduction.
Wildlife experts are advancing a project to reintroduce elk to Nottinghamshire's wetlands, marking a significant step towards bringing back a species extinct in the UK for 3,000 years. This initiative, spearheaded by the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Wildlife Trusts, has received £15,000 in funding from Rewilding Britain for essential feasibility studies.
A critical upcoming milestone is a disease risk assessment, anticipated by early next year. This assessment, conducted by a specialist veterinary consultant, will evaluate potential disease transmission risks to and from the elk. Wildlife trusts are taking a robust approach to ensure the health and safety of both the reintroduced animals and the existing ecosystem.
Subject to a successful risk assessment and further funding, the plan involves a phased reintroduction, beginning with a large, enclosed area on a nature reserve. The ultimate vision is for wild elk to roam freely across Britain's floodplains, starting with the Trent and Idle rivers, though this ambitious goal is still some way off.
