Rewilders in the United Kingdom are reintroducing previously extinct species to the nation in the absence of leadership from the government. The UK is one of the most nature-depleted nations globally. Recently reintroduced species include the beaver, which has reappeared in areas across England and Scotland due to a combination of official trials and unofficial releases. While the UK has protected beavers, Scotland still permits landowners to kill dozens of them annually.
Another reintroduced species includes the white-tailed eagle, extinct in the UK since 1780. The bird of prey has been reintroduced to Scotland and the Isle of Wight, where this summer marked the first chick hatching in 240 years. The wild boar reappeared in the British countryside in the 1970s after becoming absent since the 13th century. Previously extinct for a century, the black-veined white butterfly reappeared on a nature reserve in London, likely due to an illegal release.
Water voles are a vital species for river ecosystems, burrowing into banks and creating habitat for other animals while serving as a source of food for predators. UK populations had declined due to pollution and habitat loss, but official releases have helped bring the species back.
The pine marten, which prey upon the invasive grey squirrel, has been growing in mid-Wales and Gloucestershire following official releases. Guerrilla rewilders have probably helped increase the number of pine martens in the country by releasing them in a woodland in southwest London. These efforts have been vital in reclaiming the UK’s biodiversity, which had been significantly depleted until sustainable, strategic measures were put in place
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