PRESS RELEASE

Release date: 14th October 2013

Reading plays host to major wolf seminar

Reading is all set to host a high profile seminar as part of international Wolf Awareness Week this weekend.

The UK Wolf Conservation Trust is holding the two-day seminar at its centre in Beenham, Berkshire. The sold out event will see four leading wolf conservationists come together to help dispel popular misconceptions about wolves and teach people the importance of their conservation.

Dr Doug Smith, Dr Cristina Eisenberg, Paul Lister and world-renowned wildlife photographer, Will Burrard-Lucas have all been confirmed for the event.

Dr Doug Smith is leader of the Yellowstone wolf project and author of Decade of the Wolf: Returning the Wild to Yellowstone. He  has been at the forefront of wolf conservation in America’s Yellowstone National Park for more than 20 years and will speaking at the seminar in what will be his first ever visit to the UK. Dr Cristina Eisenberg is also heavily involved in the Yellowstone Project and has played a large part in wolf conservation worldwide over the past few years.

Together with Paul Lister, owner of the Alladale Wilderness Reserve in the Caledonian Forest of north-east Scotland and founder of The European Nature Trust (TENT), and Internationally-acclaimed wildlife photographer, Will Burrard-Lucas, the seminar will also kickstart the UK Wolf Conservation Trust’s Conservation In Action weekend.

Paul Lister is well known for his conservation efforts in the Scottish Highlands and Will Burrard Lucas is most recognised for his work in Africa with the Ethiopian Wolf Project in which he has helped to save the critically endangered Ethiopian wolf.

Tsa Palmer, co-founder and Director of the UK Wolf Conservation Trust said: “It’s a real coup for us to have these remarkable people coming over to speak at our seminars. The whole event has been organised to help educate people about wolves and highlight why their conservation is so important. The wolf is an apex predator and is integral to the wider food chain. Without wolves predating on prey species such as elk and bison, we would suffer overpopulation of ungulates or hoofed animals which in turn affects vegetation levels and smaller ecosystems.”

The UK Wolf Conservation Trust is currently home to ten grey wolves who act as ambassadors for their wild cousins. Among them are the UK’s first Arctic wolves.

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