Walking around the grounds now, Mrs Mansfield is greeted by calling monkeys, purring lynxes and even a rattling porcupine.

BBC: Pam Mansfield's exotic animal sanctuary faces big bills

Monday's debate on the pros and cons of bringing back bears, wolves and lynxes will be held in Lochinver in Sutherland to mark Earth Day.

BBC: Bringing bears to Scotland to be debated at Lochinver

"Northern New England is the only place in the eastern United States where you have the potential for large-scale wilderness where wolves, lynxes, cougars, woodland caribou and salmon rivers could be restored, " according to Michael J.

CNN: Developers, ranchers encroaching on many of world's forests