Supporters

Chris Packham, writer, photographer, TV presenter.

"I think the Tooth and Claw project marks a tangible , refreshing and more importantly essential point of change in our attitude to conservation here in the UK . It has challenged us to accept the long resented reality that people count more than wildlife because they control it and its future . It gives us no choice but to entertain the opinions of both 'sides' of these ancient and viscious debates and to use this as a means of effecting change through compromise and consideration . Its tough , but then its tough out there in the real world and this intelligent idea gives us the vehicle and impetus to get going ".

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James Marchington, Editor, Sport Shooter magazine.

Tooth & Claw's breathtaking images are merely the window dressing for something much deeper. This project sets out to make us reassess how we feel about predators. The authors fearlessly tackle subjects from foxhunting to keeping pet cats to reintroducing predators like sea eagles, wolves and bears to Britain's countryside. They talk to people on all sides of the debate - preservationists, conservationists, scientists, shooters, keepers and hunters. And which side are they on? Frustratingly, they don't let on. What comes through is their belief in talking openly and honestly about the way we live with predators. That's not easy to do in an area where everyone starts from an entrenched position and an attitude of "you're either with us or against us". I think this project marks a turning point in the way we talk about predators in Britain. Some of the old school will find it hard to take, but I believe that the debate it sparks can only be good.

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Johnny Birks (Mammalogist and ecology consultant)

“With our once-beleaguered predators recovering at last, and arguments about reintroducing long-lost disparus, we urgently need antidotes to the entrenched polarization of opinion about co-existence with our wild competitors. At long last we have one in Tooth and Claw: a catalyst for brave new thinking, it has coaxed the protagonists out of their trenches to engage in sound debate about the future of our most charming and challenging mammals and birds. Let’s play football with ideas until the teams merge into one…..”

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Mark Carwardine (Zoologist, Photographer, Writer and Broadcaster)

"Tooth and Claw is an inspired, long overdue and much-needed project. We have such extreme (and often uninformed) views about predators in Britain that we desperately need a forum for information dissemination and debate. It's ironic that we happily expect people elsewhere in the world to live alongside tigers, lions, polar bears and many other far more dangerous predators than any we have, or have had, in Britain - and yet struggle with the concept in our own backyard."

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John Linnell (Carnivore ecologist and member of the Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe)

“The issues that the T&C project address are international. The prejudices and attitudes that we encounter with lynx, bears and wolves in continental Europe are identical to those encountered with hen harriers, wild cats, red foxes and golden eagles in Britain. It all shows that most of the "problem" is not with these species, it is in our heads. It deals with our willingness to share, to tolerate a bit of wildness, to coexist. Time and again predators have shown their ability to live with humans, while humans have shown their lack of will to live with predators. Changing this is not easy, and is not done overnight! The key words that T&C promotes - "dialogue", "collaboration", "communication", "knowledge", "tolerance" - are exactly those needed to promote change because the bottom line of predator conservation is as much about humans learning to tolerate each other as their learning to live with predators. A reflected, respectful, and informed initiative like T&C is exactly what is needed to change human attitudes in the right direction.”

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Gordon Buchanan (wildlife cameraman and TV presenter)

"In every habitat the world over, predators are the lid that prevents the ecological pot from boiling over. I applaud Tooth and Claw's efforts to provide a platform for clear, informed and unbiased dialogue concerning our most impressive though most contentious species".

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Rosamund Kidman-Cox (former editor of BBC Wildlife Magazine)

"The Tooth & Claw project is a brilliant idea — great shots, too. The more people that learn the true facts about predators, the less likely they are to misinterpret their behaviour or demonise them. And airing views, from all quarters, is one way to help bring issues to a head. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if, one day, the wider public had enough understanding not only to feel secure with the idea of the return of some of our lost carnivores but also excited about being able to see them in the wild on home ground."

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Staffan Widstrand (Photographer, Writer and Co-founder of "The Scandinavian Big Five Carnivore Centre" in Sweden)

"As the most common, most ferocious, most widespread, most dangerous and most destructive predator of them all, who are we humans, to throw stones at other carnivores when they just go about their business? I am truly impressed by your work and commitment and wish you all luck. I like your focus on facts, striking photography, dialogue and your attitude to search for common ground. We can live side by side with far more of our fellow tooth&claw-equipped carnivores than today. "

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Professor Steve Redpath, ACES (Aberdeen Centre for Environmental Sustainability), Aberdeen University.

“Tooth and Claw provides a welcome and vital forum for people to discuss the complex issues surrounding the way we perceive our large predators in Britain. What is particularly refreshing is their unbiased and objective approach in an area where polarised debate is the norm.”

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