Return of wolves to Scotland?

 
I spotted this painting of wolves in the studio of wildlife artist Martin Ridley.
 He is taking part in Perthshire Open Studios this week and his is one of the few studios I have managed to visit.
 
 The scene is a few miles down the road from his home in Comrie and the wolves? well he has taken some artistic license and added them.
 
Wolves were once plentiful in this part of the world until 500 years ago .
 
Once there were regular wolf hunts every year to try and curtail their numbers and they were such a threat to travellers that special houses, or spittals, were built to protect them. Also the wolves tended to dig up graves so they built wolf-proof coffins.
 
Now there is talk of re-introducing them.
Understandably the reintroduction of wolves back into Scotland is a controversial issue but its one that the new environment charity Rewilding Britain would like to see on the agenda.
 
 
But they have in fact been successfully re-introduced into Yellowstone National Park in America so it can be done.
   
I suspect though that it will be many years before we see wolves roaming the Scottish Highlands again such is the fear people have of them.
See extra photo of Martin at work in his studio.