Not so "native" introductions

Not so "native" introductions

One of the key criteria for determining if a species is "native" is
that it should have evolved with all other species within its own
environment and not have been introduced or assisted by man to arrive
at what is regarded as its natural location. In short, it should have
got to where it is by its own efforts and evolved naturally.

However, there is a basic problem with this. The word "species" is
only a descriptive term within a man-made classification system, so it
is ridiculous to latch the adjective "native" onto a classification,
when in the real world it should relate to actual animals that have
been born and bred in a location to which their native standing
rightfully applies.

If it is important to conservationists that a species evolves
naturally in Britain to earn its "native species" status here, then it
should be equally important that the same species evolving in a
different natural environment abroad, should not be regarded as
"native" to this country.

So it is completely fallacious to claim just because a "species"
exists in other parts of the world as well as in Britain, that
overseas animals can be regarded as "native" if "reintroduced" to this
country. Indeed, the word "reintroduced" compounds the fallacy by
implying they were "introduced" previously - which in conservation
speak would have made them "aliens".

An example of this is the red squirrel, which has a range stretching
from Northern Europe to China. However, it takes an enormous stretch
of one's imagination to regard red squirrels anywhere from here to
China, as being native to one particular location. These animals have
evolved within a wide range of climatic and environmental conditions
and most certainly been affected by their association with different
flora and fauna encountered across the part of the range they inhabit.
To argue that these influences are not important is to argue against
the whole concept of "native species".

The current population of red squirrels in the UK was introduced
(reintroduced?) from various parts of Europe around a hundred years
ago, following their virtual extermination by those with forestry
interests who regarded them as "tree rats" that damaged trees - a term
now being used, just as unfairly, to demonise grey squirrels in the
eyes of the general public.

Both populations of squirrels, red and grey, have recently been
introduced to this country and there is no conclusive evidence that
even the earlier red squirrels evolved here continuously from the time
of the land bridge to Europe around 10,000 years ago.

Conservationists claiming animals and birds "reintroduced" to this
country are "native" because the species existed here in the past are
deceiving the public.

Truth is, most animals and birds being introduced or protected by
so-called conservationists and government agencies are being exploited
for their economic value to tourism.

Grey squirrels being slaughtered in their thousands to "protect" reds,
are victims of an agenda of greed and falsehoods.



Angus Macmillan
www.roots-of-blood.org.uk
www.killhunting.org
www.con-servation.org.uk

All truth passes through three stages:
First, it is ridiculed;
Second, it is violently opposed; and
Third, it is accepted as self-evident.
-- Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860)
.

Relevant Pages

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