When I watched this four minute video sent to me by my film-maker friend Richard Snashall, I was gobsmacked. Wolves shaping rivers? surely not. But yes, this is an amazing story of what happens when we reintroduce an animal back into their habitat, and they re-instate the ‘trophic cascade’ they were originally part of.
When wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone in 1995, after being absent for seventy years, scientists and locals were able to watch what happened – it is a truly incredible story about wolves boosting plant and animal biodiversity, as well as transforming the physical landscape of the park. This is a brilliant film and one that is inspiring for those of us seeking to restore our river landscapes.
If you know of anything similar occurring in Australia we would love to hear from you.