Pine marten is being spotted in London for the first time in more than 100 YEARS – raising hopes for the endangered species
- The pine marten was once Britain’s second most common carnivore
- But habitat loss and persecution brought the animal to the brink of extinction
- A pine marten has now been unexpectedly sighted in south-west London
A pine marten has been sighted in London for the first time since the late 19th century.
The pine marten was once Britain’s second most common carnivore.
But habitat loss and persecution by the Victorians, who hunted pine martens for sport and captured them for their fur, brought the animal to the brink of extinction in England.
Now, however, an endangered pine marten has been unexpectedly spotted in a wooded area in south-west London.
A pine marten has been sighted in London for the first time since the late 19th century
The pine marten was once Britain’s second most common carnivore. But habitat loss and persecution by the Victorians, who hunted pine martens for sport and captured them for their fur, brought the animal to the brink of extinction in England
The return of an animal that had disappeared from the capital for more than a century was spotted by a hidden wildlife camera installed by the international conservation organization Zoological Society of London (ZSL).
The camera was used as part of London’s HogWatch project to monitor hedgehogs.
Project research associate Kate Scott-Gatty said: “As part of our ongoing work monitoring hedgehogs, we are deploying camera traps in forests.
“In this area these are usually triggered by the movement of common species such as foxes and badgers, so you can imagine our surprise to see a pine marten – a species normally only seen in Scotland and northern England.”
It is unknown how the pine marten got into the urban forests, with the closest known population being more than 70 miles away in the New Forest in Hampshire.
Conservationists suspect the animal captured by the camera may have been released into the area.
Pine martens are generally restricted to north and central Scotland, with some very small populations in northern England, the New Forest and Wales.
dr Chris Carbone, senior research fellow at ZSL’s Institute of Zoology, said: “The return of wildlife to an area can be positive – it could mean that habitat quality is improving or natural food sources are increasing – but it’s important that we understand more.
“Reintroductions of any species should only be undertaken by professionals, with the appropriate controls in place – from assessing habitat suitability to screening for diseases.”
Elliot Newton, Biodiversity Officer at the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, said: “We are delighted to have found such a beautiful and elusive mammal on cameras funded by Kingston Council through the HogWatch project.
“In other European countries, pine martens are found in urban environments.
“The animal captured by our cameras appears in good health and is a very welcome addition to our local fauna.”
The return of an animal that hasn’t been to the capital for more than a century has been spotted by a hidden wildlife camera installed by the international conservation organization Zoological Society of London (ZSL).
The camera was used as part of London’s HogWatch project to monitor hedgehogs
In July it was announced that pine martens could be reintroduced in south-west England after a 150-year absence.
A coalition of conservation organizations including the National Trust, Devon Wildlife Trust and Woodland Trust hope the nocturnal mammals can be released as early as autumn next year.
Pine martens are a tool in the fight to save the UK’s native red squirrel as they prey on gray squirrels rather than red ones.
The creatures are omnivores and will feed on whatever is available in the season including voles, rabbits, mushrooms, berries and small birds.
