Latest news - February 2010
The Highland Council has agreed to renew a Dangerous Wild Animals licence on Alladale, in spite of an objection from its own access officer. This licence had originally been granted for a 500-acre enclosure in 2007 but had lapsed. The situation as regards access within the enclosure was always unclear. While an electrified fence had been erected, there were gates within the fence - although these had been locked. The fence itself and its associated service tracks create a massive impact on the landscape. In December 2009, The Highland Council confirmed that it had received a Notice of Intention from the Alladale estate to apply for a zoo licence. If granted, this licence would enable the estate to stock wild animals such as wolves within three enclosures, including the existing 500-acre enclosure mentioned above. This would be likely to bring restrictions to public access on the estate. There will be a period of public consultation on the application.
Ramblers Scotland Director Dave Morris said: "We expect to oppose the issue of this zoo licence. Approving such a project would be contrary to the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 as it would prevent people exercising their statutory rights of access over a large area of land. There are already problems with his existing exclosure, with its high fence and electrified wires which make it near impossible to cross. The Alladale situation suggests that it is time for us to ask the Scottish Parliament to prohibit the use of electric fencing in Scotland in association with deer fencing or other forms of high fencing."
View the Alladale zoo licence application here
Background
There has been much publicity about the plans of Paul Lister to reintroduce certain native species to his estate at Alladale, in Sutherland. These would include wild boar, lynx, brown bears and, most controversially, wolves. In 2006, Ramblers Scotland President at that time, Cameron McNeish, and Director Dave Morris visited the estate and discussed the project with Mr Lister. Although Alladale is around 23,000 acres, it is too small an area to support wolves naturally, and so we believe that what is proposed is a “safari park” encircled by a 3-metre high electrified fence in which visitors will pay to be driven around to see the animals. 
Director Dave Morris, Paul Lister and Dick Balharry at the Alladale Estate
Ramblers Scotland is clearly concerned about the threat to access posed by such a fence, even if access points are included, and we believe that it is unlikely to receive planning permission. Our main worry, however, is that if this development went ahead it would set a precedent for other landowners to stock their estates with a few wild animals and then put a fence around the whole area. We understand there is already a 500-acre enclosure on the estate surrounded by an electrified fence, which contains wild boar and elk. We continue to take an interest in this project.
Ramblers Scotland position statement on reintroductions
Article from Scottish Rambler 2005
