Endangered Dormice Reintroduced into England

Conservationists have released more than 20 rare hazel dormice into a secret woodland in Leicestershire. The project is part of national efforts to help the The conservationalists hope that the dormice will form a bigger population spanning the whole area.

Over the past 25 years, the hazel dormice population has fallen by around 70% nationally. They were once common all over Britain, but now they have experienced a significant decline, mostly because of habitat loss. According to a recent approach, the dormice are thought to be extinct in 20 English counties.

The dormice were reintroduced this week to a secret place within the Bradgate Park Trust estate in Leicestershire by experts such as People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES), a wildlife charity. People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES). The dormice will be housed in open enclosures for more than a week before being fully released. This helps the dormice adapt to their new environment, preventing them from starving or dying immediately.

According to the BBC, Ian White from PTES said that the reintroduction could be an important step in starting a new population of dormice. He explained, “ It’s a big day for the county, as dormice haven’t been seen here for a very long time. He also added, “We’re hopeful that by autumn, the dormice will have settled into the woodland. If we start to see litters later this year, it will mark the beginning of their return.”