There are many animals that exist in the British countryside that you may be surprised to see, there are over 3000 invasive species since the land
bridge to Europe was inundated 200,000 years ago.Some are alien escapees or have colonised naturally others have been deliberately intnoduced either
illegally or legally.Here is a list of some of the more interesting arrivals on our shores.
Thanks to our taste for boar meat the wild boar is back in southern and central England absent since it's extinction in the middle ages, probably a
1000 wild animals exist today after escapes from farms(There is million in France).You may even see one walking down the aisle at your local co-op
and knocking over the elderly . news.bbc.co.uk...
The Rednecked wallaby has lived in Scotland, Isle of man and England since at least 1900 some colonies became extinct though.But with hundreds kept
by landowners to keep the grass short more escapes or releases are
The N Ireland lynx
Alien big Cats are definitely roaming our countryside The RUC shot a lynx in N Ireland there's another one shot and stuffed in Norfolk and a jungle
cat ran over and stuffed in Ludlow.The Lynx probably became extinct in the 10th century.Rumour is it's being released in the countryside covertly and
some were released because of the dangerous animals act 1976.bcib.wordpress.com...
Called edible because the Romans liked to eat them and the Slovenians still do.Escaped from Baron Rothschild's private collection and now spreading
it's range in the Chilterns. www.telegraph.co.uk...
(has a giraffe named after him)
Red Eared Terrapins became popular in the late eighties(Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)and thanks to their capacity to outgrow their tanks have become
widespread in Britain, i have seen three large ones my self in a local lake.Alligator snappers also
I have heard that Americans hunt these in the mud with their
bare feet feeling for the ridges on their backs, don't know if it's true or not ,i doubt they'd keep their toes long.
Green and Wall Lizards.
Wall and Grenn lizard bask togther.
Natives of Europe there is at least one introduced colony of Green Lizard in England ,these footlong lizards are expanding there range on the south
coast, released by collectors.The smaller wall lizard lives on the south coast especially around Bournmouth(introduced to the US also in Cincinnati
Very large owl said to be able to take down small deer ,is increasing in numbers after a pair nested on MOD land rearing 20 young one which was
electrocuted.Unknown whether these birds were released or colonised naturally.en.wikipedia.org...
Several species are said to reside in London and other areas generally making lots of noise and stealing grapes.Some released by Jimi Hendrix.When
English Nature allowed land owners to shoot them an environmentalist accused them of ''racism'' againt exotic immigrants.
edit on 6-6-2011 by INQUISITION11 because: (no reason given)