We are delighted and excited to welcome the latest additions to the population on the Reserve; two fine Elk specimens were flown from Sweden in November.

On the 24th November a “lost” species that has not lived in the wild in Britain for 3,600 years were welcomed back from the north of Sweden to their new homes at Alladale.

The young bull and cow European elk have handled the translocation admirably and we are delighted that they have made excellent progress following the air shipment direct to Inverness.

Initially, the elk are secured in a 450-acre (180ha) enclosure. Their interaction with 15 wild boar and about a dozen roe and red deer will be closely monitored by biologists? from the University of Oxford.

The elk were born within weeks of each other in May 2007, and are expected to mate within two years. By the time he is fully grown at 5 years, the bull’s antlers will top 8ft (2.5m) tall and his weight is likely to reach three quarters of a tonne.

A special thanks to HIGHLAND AIRWAYS for their generous financial contribution and superb organisational skills throughout a challenging exercise! www.highlandairways.com