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Wolves are set to be introduced in Connacht in a new re-wilding trial this summer, a joint statement from the Department of Agriculture and Department of Conservation has announced.
Some 40 wolves are set to be released in a number of packs on commonage in Galway and Mayo and on the plains of Roscommon.
The wolves will be microchipped so that the Departments knows of their whereabouts at all times and a number of meetings are to take place to inform landowners of the reintroduction in the coming weeks.
It is understood that landowners who wish to allow wolves on their land and want to take part in the pilot will receive a grant of €270/ha on a maximum of 50ha from the Department.
Consternation
The announcement has sparked consternation among farm organisations, with the IFA issuing a strongly worded statement on it.
IFA president Tim Cullinan called on the Minister for Agriculture to “catch a hold of himself” and quoting former rugby analyst George Hook said the pilot was “horse manure”.
The INHFA has called for farm organisations to be properly consulted on the pilot and for more engagement. It also called for the payment in the pilot to be front-loaded on the first 10ha.
The Beef Plan Movement (Meath) opposed it and on hearing this the Beef Plan Movement (Monaghan) said it would back the pilot.
Green Party
Green Party leader and south-facing window salad campaigner Eamon Ryan has expressed delight at the news.
“What a time to be alive,” Ryan told a media gathering on the plinth outside Leinster House this morning.
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