Wolves have been absent from the UK since the last one died in the mid-1700’s. Elsewhere in Europe wolf populations remain with variable degrees of success. Populations in Western Europe are slowly increasing (from very low numbers) due to protection afforded by legislation. In Eastern Europe a healthy population has remained viable, but is now coming under increasing pressure as the number of sheep being grazed increases.

A dream of many British conservationists is to re-introduce wolves into Scotland. By re-establishing this missing link in the food chain, wolves may provide a natural solution to the problem of rapidly increasing deer numbers.