On June 11, 2025, in Leicestershire, a city in the UK, more than 20 endangered dormice have been released by a team of experts including the PTES, or People’s Trust of Endangered Species. The dormice have also been reintroduced to the National Forest in Derbyshire, which neighbors Leicestershire.

Although dormice used to be prominent in Britain, over the past 25 years, their numbers have fallen by around 70%. Experts are releasing the mammals into the wild in the National Forest and a secret location in the Bradgate Part Trust estate in the hopes that the two populations will eventually merge and create a larger population spanning a wider area.

The reason for the dramatic fall of dormice numbers is likely habitat loss. The woods and hedgerows the animals need are being cut down. Also, dormice need denser woodlands than many of the current ones.

Dormice have also been reported to be extinct in 20 countries in the UK.

Ian White from PTES explained, “It’s a big day for the county, as dormice haven’t been seen here for a very long time (BBC).”

The dormice will not be released directly to the wild. Instead, they will first be housed in an open enclosure to help them adapt to the environment.

“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 (BBC),” Mr White added.

Starting from 1993, dormice have been reintroduced to the wild annually, and starting from 2000, the reintroduction has been managed by PTES, a wildlife charity. 1142 dormice have been released into 26 woodlands in 13 countries over the past 32 years.

The near loss of dormice has noticeable effects on the food chain, as they are a significant food source for owls, foxes, and other predators. With less dormice, these predators rely on other prey and affect their hunting patterns. If the dormice are not protected, our ecosystem could be affected greatly.

Sources:

https://www.the-independent.com/climate-change/news/leicestershire-tea-party-english-zsl-london-zoo-vets-b2768448.html

https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/articles/c5yxn5kgel0o (BBC)