| Gloria 2007-10-31, 3:25 am |
| The obsessive, compulsive need to control nature has backfired in
Wales. It used to be only the people who were inbred, now it's the
wildlife. This is what happens when you have a few control freaks
trying to run nature.
'Welsh squirrels' need new blood
The days of genuinely Welsh squirrels are numbered - but it is for
their own good, according to scientists.
Experts in DNA techniques have found an unique bloodline on Anglesey
but also that the local population is too in-bred.
To improve the situation squirrels from outside the area are needed to
strengthen the bloodlines.
Despite this, the Anglesey Red Squirrel project is confident the
population on the island will continue to grow.
"The population at Pentraeth are genuinely Welsh, with DNA which is
unique to one area," said Hugh Knott , environmental project manager
with Menter Môn, the Anglesey-based regeneration organisation backing
the red squirrel projects.
"The population at Newborough on the other hand are made up of
squirrels from all over the country which have been bought in.
"The hope is eventually that the two populations will meet up and
breed, strengthening the bloodlines."
By learning more about the animals DNA experts can better identify
individual animals and their movements.
"A squirrel was run over in Brynsiencyn recently and was traced back
to Pentraeth via a small tattoo which is given to all red squirrels
which are caught.
"We think it could have found it's way to Newborough where it would
have bred with the population there."
The DNA testing is part of an ongoing squirrel project set up to save
the dwindling population.
Last year over 20 young - called kittens - were born in the Newborough
area on the western side of Anglesey.
Figures for this year are not yet available, but the hope is that it
will have been another successful breeding season.
Overall numbers are in serious decline. In Wales, there are just a few
sites where red squirrel live - in Gwynedd, Clwyd, and central Wales.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/...est/4205458.stm
Published: 2005/09/01 15:54:39 GMT
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