Reptile Translocation update

A long distance translocation of reptiles (grass snake, lizards, slowworms and adders) over 175 miles was started this year. The translocation was from South Essex to Wiltshire.

October Press Release - http://portal.pohub.com/pls/pogprtl/docs/PAGE/LONDON_GATEWAY /MEDIA%20SECTION/LG_PRESS_RELEASE_STORE/NEW%20PORT%20DEVELOP MENT%20CREATES%2050%2C000%20NEW%20HOMES%20FOR%20ANIMALS.PDF

You can see the PR video here - http://portal.pohub.com/portal/page?_pageid=1063,323992& _dad=pogprtl&_schema=POGPRTL

The EARG have been trying to find out more and have been told by Natural England & Wiltshire Wildlife Trust to write to DP world

Graeme Clarke
DP World
London Gateway
The Manor Way
Stanford-le-Hope
Essex
SS17 9PD
E-mail Graeme.clarke@dpworld.com

If anyone gets any response please let us know

Youtube has provided further information on this project

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=usiWUVUqcZM

50,000 animals in 3 months that is an amazing feat wouldnt you agree?

The EARG still havent heard anything from DP World. Natural England Local Team (01206 796666) have suggested that EARG contact the consultants working on the project. Natural England would have information on this project yet it isnt publicly available when of course it is

The EARG will be contacting Thomson Ecology regarding this project......

Jon 

Hi Steve

If you could contact Paul and ask him about the translocation perhaps we would know more about why they used the receptor site in Wiltshire.

I have a vague idea why they used it it makes you wonder why the great crested newts had a large area purchased for them very local to the site - i.e. within a few hundred yards yet the other animals are going to two nature reserves in Wiltshire. Wiltshire Wildlife Trust accepted the animals.

Everyone (WT, NE etc) involved in the project are just directing enquiries to DP World and they have not responded.......

 

Jon

Edited by herpetologic2

If this had been a Kent project and somebody was bucketing adders out
of the county I suspect that I may also be a trifle upset...

Interestingly, KRAG was recently contacted and asked to recommend a
Kent receptor site for animals from the same project. I hear that other
args and wildlife trusts have also been approached. Presumably the
consultants involved with this project are now considering shipping the
animals around the rest of the country?

If ever there was a case study that exemplifies the need for statutory
guidelines on the conduct and implementation of widespread reptile
species mitigation work...


Edited by calumma

Does anyone have any idea as towards the carrying
capacity of the introduction site?

Local twitcher groups have posted adder and common lizard
sightings at the north Swindon site this year, suggesting
hibernacula were successful, but the site from Google
Earth looks very atypical for adders, and I will be
interested as to the long term survival of this
population.

From a genetic and disease PoV, I can't imagine any
adjacent populations to be at risk, as there aren't any
(adder wise at least). In this respect the site seems
safe, but not exactly terra-typica...

Grass snake at "nearby sites" may be different as there
is a LOT of good looking Natrix habitat available locally that I doubt is un-taken.

great to see the herps being saved & removed but as Steve says why such a long distance realocation site.there is plenty of sites in Essex and neighboring counties