itless supply of food. This new food was slower, easier to kill and there was a lot more of it. The result was inevitable: outright war between man and wolf.
As far back as the late 1500's we have references to organised wolf hunting. Later, throughout the 1600's, as English forces made their presence felt in Ireland wolves were to suffer terribly. Massive projects were set underway to clear away huge sections of Oak Forest. This was the wolf's natural habitat and now that it was being destroyed at a rapid scale they were forced closer and closer to mankind, resulting in even more livestock being destroyed.
The vicious circle was becoming complete. The wolves were more exposed and thus more vulnerable. The government of King James I set out guidelines for wolf extermination and how much of a reward would be given for each one killed. The plan was never actually used but it paved the way for the actions of a certain Oliver Cromwell.
Cromwell is more infamous for his actions regarding people in Ireland, yet he was personally responsible for the extermination of what must have been hundreds, if not thousands, of wolves. In 1652 he gave orders that wolves were not to be exported from the country and later the same year, wolf hunts were organised. The next year a scale of rewards was introduced for the different type of wolves caught; more for a mother, less for a cub and so on.
The extermination took some time and it is not exactly clear when it was completed. Arguments have ranged for centuries now, as to when the ?last wolf? was killed and where. Nearly every county in Ireland, at some time or another, has claimed to be the one where the ?last wolf? was killed. However, it is reasonably safe to say that the last one died before the end of the 18th Century.
What is striking, when the extermination of the Irish wolf is studied, is the alarming parallel with what is happening in modern Ireland relating to another native species, which is seen as a threat to livestock. This is of course the badger, who has been systematically hunted and exterminated over the last eight years.
Some people estimate that up to 20,000 have been slaughtered. This has been done under a state-sponsored scheme, despite the fact that the most recent scientific evidence suggests that the badgers are not the ones who are primarily responsible for the spread of Tuberculosis (TB) in livestock.
It would appear that after five to six centuries the methods have changed, the weapons have changed and even the animal has changed, but attitudes to native Irish wildlife have not?
the treatment of wolves and the rest of our native animals is once again a shameful and embarrassing tale. As usual, unless we could break the animal's spirit(dogs) we could do nothing but demonise a creature that was far nobler and more gracious than ourselves.
Posted by: aoife at June 26, 2003 9:19 PM
If there were never wolves in Ireland, then why were famous people named for them, and why was a dog bred to hunt them? And why so much ART that depicts them?
Were there ever wolves in Ireland. Definately. Bears? FORESTS? History records there were dense forests in Ireland--filled with all manner of wild animals. Since modern folk don't read the histories, we are doomed to repeat the same mistakes...again.
Posted by: Dani at August 20, 2003 1:39 AM
Very interesting and very true. The same level of ignorance applies to the many sharks which roam our waters.
Posted by: Diogenes at October 16, 2003 7:18 AM
With my love of wolves, it's a little sickening for me to read that one of my ancestors (Cromwell) did something like that. I guess it was the times though. Back then people tended to think in terms of "Kill what you don't understand, unless you can subjigate it." It kinda sucks.
Posted by: Texascarnieroadshow at October 30, 2003 11:47 AM
Just one comment, In 1652 Cromwell gave orders that WOLFHOUNDS were not to be exported from the Ireland, not wolves.
Posted by: Tim Hodkinson at November 7, 2003 2:58 PM
Wolves are so cool. They rock the world. Especially Werewolves!
Posted by: Laura at Fe