In a new study published today by the ROYAL SOCIETY it is claimed that 500 wolves could be introduced back into the Scottish Highlands, after a 240 year absence, to solve an emerging ecological crisis caused by soaring deer numbers.

The estimated half a million deer are threatening plant and bird life and making reforestation problematic. The biggest obstacle to this however, is negative public perception of the creatures. Wolves have a big PR problem. Alan Watson Featherstone, Executive Director of the Trees for Life charity, says, “The wolf probably has the worst public image of any large animal on the planet, fed by children’s fairy tale stories like The Three Little Pigs and Little Red Riding Hood.”

One children’s writer trying to redress the balance is Michelle Paver, whose series The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness, set in the Stone Age, tells the story of a young orphaned boy, Torak, and his friendship with a wolf cub. Michelle, who is also a patron of the UK Wolf Conservation Trust, based in Berkshire, was thrilled when the trust named their newly adopted wolf cub Torak, after the hero of her books. Michelle has spoken to thousands of children, in schools and at literary festivals in the UK and abroad, dispelling myths about wolves. She talks about her first-hand experiences with the creatures, and even teaches the children some “wolf talk”!


Michelle Paver’s Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series is published in 37 countries worldwide. The books have sold over half a million copies in the UK alone. Ridley Scott has bought the film rights to the series. he Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series was launched with WOLF BROTHER in 2004, and followed by SPIRIT WALKER in 2005, SOUL EATER in 2006. The eagerly anticipated fourth title in the series, OUTCAST will be published in September this year.

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