Josh Donlan, a Ph.D. student in the department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Cornell University, is making quite a name for himself (as well as a big media splash!) with the publication of an article in the current issue of Nature.
Mr. Donlan, along with a group of his academic colleagues, is proposing a radical new program in which wild African animals, such as elephants, cheetahs and lions, would be introduced into large tracts of private land in the American plains.
His reasoning?
No, Mr. Donlan is not trying to create another drive-through wild animal park, but is actually attempting to address the loss of large native predators that became extinct long ago.
There are other reasons as well. Rewilding could help to save these African animals from extinction and the presence of these animals could restore biological "mega-functions" to this continent, that were lost long ago. Plus, some say this plan would bring tourists flocking to the U.S. national parks, whose visitor numbers have been declining since 1987.
The cons? There are plenty.
Angry ranchers, potential introduction of disease, unanticipated effects on native animal and plant populations, and danger to humans, to name a few.
Plus, some question the hubris of American scientists who wish to "re-create" the African continent in America. Why not give aid to the African conservationists who are trying to save the animals in their natural habitat?
Still, even if rewilding never happens...the sheer aduacity of the idea is stunning, and it's gotten a lot of folks thinking in ways they never expected.
And that's all to the good.
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