\n A group of US researchers at Cornell University have identified a
\n novel approach to conservation called Pleistocene wilding.
\n They have developed an initiative that involves placing lions,
\n cheetahs, elephants and camels in some parts of North America.\n <\/p>\n
\n The plan would help endangered African animals while offer
\n ecotourism and land-management jobs to help the struggling
\n economies of the Great Plains and Southwest as well as helping to
\n maintain ecosystems and boost biodiversity.\n <\/p>\n
\n During the Pleistocene age, between 1.8 million to about 10,000
\n years ago, North America was home to a wide range of mega
\n fauna. When man arrived around 13,000 years ago he hunted
\n the American cheetah and a type of camel to extinction. The
\n disappearance of these extinct creatures has left gaps in the
\n ecosystem. The pronghorn, for example, which exists today,
\n an antelope-like animal for example has lost its natural
\n predator. \n <\/p>\n
\n By introducing living counterparts to the extinct animals, the
\n researchers say, these voids could be filled. So, by introducing
\n free-ranging African cheetahs to the Southwest, strong
\n interactions with pronghorns could be restored, while providing
\n cheetahs with a new habitat. Other living species that
\n could “stand in” for Pleistocene-era animals in North
\n America include feral horses, wild asses, Bactrian camels, Asian
\n and African elephants and lions.\n <\/p>\n
\n “Obviously, gaining public acceptance is going to be a huge
\n issue, especially when you talk about reintroducing
\n predators,” said lead author Josh Donlan, of Cornell
\n University. “There are going to have to be some major
\n attitude shifts. That includes realising predation is a natural
\n role, and that people are going to have to take
\n precautions.” Dr Donlan said that large tracts of private
\n land are probably the most promising place to start, with each
\n step carefully guided by the fossil record and the involvement of
\n experts and research.\n <\/p>\n
\n “We are not advocating backing up a van and letting
\n elephants and cheetah out into the landscape,” he said.
\n “All of this would be science driven.”\n <\/p>\n
A group of US researchers at Cornell University have identified a novel approach to conservation called Pleistocene wilding. They have developed an initiative that involves placing lions, cheetahs, elephants and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","css_class_manager_body_classes":"","css_class_manager_use_in_post_loop":false},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1764","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-main-article"],"yoast_head":"\n