"People don't hate wolves; they hate what wolves symbolize. People don't love wolves; they love what they symbolize. The reality is always somewhere in between."

Ecology

Wolf predation reduces deer numbers, but in particular it alters deer grazing patterns which allow the forest, flora and fauna to begin regenerating. Strong evidence for this effect comes from the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone in the US. When wolves were killed off in the 1920's the deer population multiplied, grazed everything, and the trees and fauna degenerated. Since wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone in the 1990's the flora have been regenerating and the fauna recovering. See Lessons From the Wolf, by Jim Robbins (Scientific American, July 2004).

Deer

The reintroduction of wolves will make a start to enable their deer prey to continue their natural evolution. The deer populations in the Highlands have had no natural predator since wolves were exterminated and may be the poorer as a result.

Economy

The wolves will bring jobs and income to local people in the Highlands through Wolf Ecotourism.

Natural

HeritageThe reintroduction of wolves will give satisfaction and enjoyment to millions of people, kindling and sustaining an interest and concern for nature and the human-animal relationship.

Education

The reintroduction of wolves will be a focus of education for children and adults about the natural world and the human part in it.

Ethics

The reintroduction of wolves can be an important hub of ethical debate about animal ethics, including animal rights, animal welfare, wildlife conservation and wildlife management.

Science

The reintroduction of wolves will add significantly to scientific knowledge about the reintroduction and recovery of a large predator, predator-prey interactions, human-large predator co-existence and wolf biology.

Finance

The wolves can help finance their own recovery by paying for any livestock they take. A compensation fund can be set up from wolf ecotourism income.