REINTRODUCING wolves to the Scottish Highlands could expand native woodland and store a million tonnes of CO2 every year, according to a new study.

Researchers at the University of Leeds argue around 167 wolves would be enough to curb the population of red deer, whose tree sapling eating habits limit woodland regeneration.

They argue the resultant woodland expansion could make up around 5 per cent of the carbon removal target for UK woodlands, amounting to over a million tonnes of CO2 — or more than 6,000 tonnes per wolf.