The Endangered Caledonian Forest in Scotland by Kimberly Edwards
If you've never heard of the Caledonian Forest, it's time to listen up. Basically, the Caledonian Forest is like the "Rainforest" of Scotland. It used to cover 1.5 million hectares of the Scottish Highlands, and now, only about 1% of that remains in 35 isolated areas. This is devastating, not only to Scotland and it's amazing wildlife, but to the world in general. We depend upon trees to survive. The species like beaver, tarpan, wild boar and the lynx are that inhabited these forests are gone.
This forest is a unique ecosystem in the British Isles and is home to some of the rarest wildlife:
1. There are 13 bird species that breed here that are found nowhere else in the British Isles.
2. 8 more bird species breed here that are considered rare in the British Isles.
3. There are 8 mammals still present in the remaining Caledonian Forest.
4. 8 mammals are considered extinct here, including:
- European Beaver
- Wild Boar
- Gray Wolf
- Elk
- Aurochs
- Eurasian Lynx
- Brown Bear
- Tarpan (wild horse)
What an awful shame!
What do we do now? Well, programs have been instituted to attempt to reforest the Great Caledonian. You can volunteer in replanting, or support these endeavors. Be sure to search online for organizations aimed at regenerating the Caledonian Forest in particular. At least spread the word, so that people are aware of the situation in Scotland. Some of the Scottish landowners have been planning to build game reserves on their estates to release some of the species that are now considered extinct in the area, as listed above.
by Kimberly Edwards
Kimberly Edwards is the founder of ExoticAnimalLover.com - Keeping Up The Fight To Preserve The Planet's Wildlife. Find awesome information about animals from all over the world, exotic animal news, updates on conservation, and anything else "Animal". For all of you who are exotic animal lovers, you know who you are...Check out: http://www.ExoticAnimalLover.com.
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