Britain's red squirrel on the rebound
Tuesday, June 7, 2005 Posted: 1413 GMT (2213 HKT)
LONDON, England (AP) -- Rare native red squirrels reintroduced to a pine forest are set for a bumper breeding year, conservationists said Tuesday.
The European Squirrel Initiative said the first red squirrels reintroduced to Newborough forest in Anglesey, an island off the north coast of Wales, in 2003 produced 23 young last year.
This spring, seven litters have already been produced, and with many adult females breeding twice a year, the outlook for 2005 is extremely positive, they said.
"We are delighted to see the red squirrels returning to their old haunts," said Craig Shuttleworth of the community group, Friends of the Anglesey Red Squirrels.
"This is a terrific achievement when nationally the red squirrel is still in decline."
Until recently Anglesey, like many other parts of Britain, was dominated with gray squirrels, which were introduced in 1876 from North America and have rapidly driven out the native reds.
More than 500 gray squirrels were removed from the forest on Anglesey before the reds -- donated by British zoos and private breeders -- were returned.
The red squirrels have been provided with nesting boxes and fitted with radio collars so that they can be monitored.
The red squirrel is protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act which prohibits any unauthorized killing, theft or sale of the creatures.
The Wildlife Trust says there are only 161,000 red squirrels in Britain, compared with 2.5 million gray squirrels.
The plight of the native red squirrel has been highlighted by the European Squirrel Initiative, which represents landowners, conservationists and foresters seeking to protect the natural environment.
Copyright 2005 The Associated Press.