Latest news with #RobParry
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Experts issue dire warning after 1,200% surge in destructive wildfires: 'I don't know how they are going to cope'
Spring wildfires in Wales are posing serious threats to vulnerable species, according to the BBC. Grassfires in South Wales are up by 1,200% compared to the same time last year — 110 square miles of land across the U.K. has already suffered wildfires. A lengthy dry spell, high heat, and leftover fuel from last year have created ideal conditions for fire outbreaks. Hen harriers, water voles, golden plovers, and bluebells are just some of the species put at risk due to this extreme habitat loss. Endangered barn owls are particularly challenged by reduced prey opportunities. "A few weeks ago they had all of this area to find food for their chicks and suddenly they don't have that any more," said Rob Parry from the nonprofit Initiative for Nature Conservation Cymru (INCC), per the BBC. "I don't know how they are going to cope. A wildfire just makes that habitat disappear overnight." Wildfires have destroyed habitat for many species, putting them at risk. This includes the western gray squirrel, the southern steelhead trout, and the northern hairy-nosed wombat. While biodiversity damage is front of mind, the wildfires also release phosphates that wash into waterways and diminish local water quality. The INCC has called for increased controlled burn oversight, especially for farmers. Farmers are also becoming a part of the solution by restoring peat bogs, which prevent fires and sequester carbon. The real tragedy of the issue is that many wildfires are started deliberately. This has spurred renewed education campaigns at Welsh schools by local firefighters. "We see the death of local wildlife, we see the destruction of their habitat," said firefighter Mark Bowditch, per the BBC. "We accept that some fires can be accidental, but deliberate fire setting is a crime and that's the message we'd like to get out." Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Why do these water voles have glittery poo?
Conservation experts in Wales have learned that if you want to find out more about an animal's daily habits, you don't have to set up expensive trackers or high-tech camera equipment to follow them. You just have to put edible glitter in their is all part of a new effort to save water voles from extinction by tracking their movements in the wild. Many years ago, water voles used to be commonly found in lots of areas across Wales, but the small, brown rodents are now a very rare sight. So with the help of vets, the team from the Initiative for Nature Conservation Cymru (INCC) are taking an unusual course of action. The INCC hopes that by offering a group of captive-bred water voles pieces of apple with edible glitter on them, the sparkle should come out in their poo. If it works, they will then continue the experiment in the wild, making it easier to track the water voles' whereabouts and other habits. They are even planning to track different families of voles, simply by using different colours of glitter for each group. The plan is to see how far the water voles travel, and then make changes to their habitats in order to help them survive and breed. Based on the animals' movements, conservationists can remove certain invasive trees that have a negative impact on water vole's habitats, block off unsafe routes for them and help the species disperse through the landscape. Rob Parry, chief executive of INCC, said his team had made sure they checked with vets to ensure the edible and biodegradable glitter - the type used to decorate cakes - would not be harmful to the semi-aquatic creatures."It's something that we've done in nature conservation before for other species, for badgers in particular where we use pellets to put in with peanuts, which badgers love," said Mr Parry."So we've taken that idea and scaled it down to water vole size, which means using glitter."Water voles are often mistaken for brown rats and are becoming increasingly rare in the wild due to their wetland habitats being drained and predators, like the invasive American mink, hunting them.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Water voles are almost extinct - could glitter save them?
Endangered water voles in Wales are being fed edible glitter in a bid to save them from extinction. Once commonly found across south Wales, water voles are now effectively extinct in all but a few locations, according to the Wildlife Trust. With their future hanging in the balance, conservationists have been looking for new ways to track the naturally shy individuals in the wild - which is where the glitter comes in. Nature Conservation Cymru hopes that by offering the animals something sparkly to eat, the sparkle should come out the other end - providing some much-needed answers. Video shows 'very chill' wild beaver after 400-year absence Hopes for water voles as new colonies discovered Rob Parry, chief executive of Nature Conservation Cymru, said his team had consulted with vets to ensure the edible and biodegradable glitter - the type used to decorate cakes - would not be harmful to the semi-aquatic creatures. "It's something that we've done in nature conservation before for other species, for badgers in particular where we use pellets to put in with peanuts, which badgers love," said Mr Parry. "So we've taken that idea and scaled it down to water vole size, which means using glitter." The hope is that if the water voles are willing to consume the glitter then it will come out in their poo, allowing the small mammals - which are often mistaken for brown rats - to be tracked by conservationists. Different colours of glitter could be used to allow conservationists to track different families of water voles and how far they range. It might sound like a fun idea, but Mr Parry and his team could not be more serious. If they can track where water voles are located in the wild, they can make adjustments to the environment - like removing invasive conifers from wetland habitats or fencing off certain riverbanks to stop sheep grazing. Measures like this could help the species to disperse through the landscape undisturbed and potentially be a life-saving intervention. "We'll be able to see the types of territory, the size and where they go in," said Mr Parry. "Are they just using the linear features, the ditches, or are they spreading out into the bog and the molinia grassland habitat? "That will be really crucial for when it comes to planning for our upland habitats." The team is first testing out their theory on some captive-bred water voles which are part of a wider Natural Resources Wales (NRW) project to reintroduce colonies into the wild. The glitter is spread onto chunks of apple, not part of their normal diet in the wild, but a food the animals love and do well on in captivity, according to Richard Davies from NRW. "They get everything they need from apples, carrots, and some dried rabbit food as well," he said. He has successfully bred hundreds of water voles which have been reintroduced into the wild, though he said their release was no guarantee of survival. "Most predators in the UK would quite happily take a water vole. They need to be able to cope with this heavy predation and replace themselves a lot," he said. With a BBC News camera present, the glittery purple apple was placed on top of the straw bedding which covered the water voles' pen. After 20 minutes, the food remained untouched, but an hour later most of it had disappeared. The success of the project, however, does not just depend on the appetite of the water voles, but how well the glitter can retain its shine from end to end. Mr Parry said without interventions like this, the future for water voles was uncertain. "It's been a perfect storm of bad things that's happened to water voles in the last few decades," he said. "We have drained an awful lot of their wetland habitat, forced them into linear ditches where we find them now, and then the biggest problem is the American mink, an invasive species that was let out and released from pens and they just turned out to be the perfect water vole predators. The water voles don't stand a chance, really." But now, at least, he is more hopeful. The water voles, known for being nervous about any changes to to their environment, had not rejected the glitter. So, did the experiment work? Just 24 hours later, a tiny glittery poo was spotted. The conservation team was elated. Wild beaver swims in Welsh river in 'phenomenal' moment Two octopuses found walking on Welsh beach Mouse filmed tidying up man's shed every night
BBC News
18-05-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Water voles are almost extinct in Wales - could glitter save them?
Endangered water voles in Wales are being fed edible glitter in a bid to save them from commonly found across south Wales, water voles are now effectively extinct in all but a few locations, according to the Wildlife their future hanging in the balance, conservationists have been looking for new ways to track the naturally shy individuals in the wild - which is where the glitter comes Conservation Cymru hopes that by offering the animals something sparkly to eat, the sparkle should come out the other end - providing some much-needed answers. Rob Parry, chief executive of Nature Conservation Cymru, said his team had consulted with vets to ensure the edible and biodegradable glitter - the type used to decorate cakes - would not be harmful to the semi-aquatic creatures."It's something that we've done in nature conservation before for other species, for badgers in particular where we use pellets to put in with peanuts, which badgers love," said Mr Parry."So we've taken that idea and scaled it down to water vole size, which means using glitter." The hope is that if the water voles are willing to consume the glitter then it will come out in their poo, allowing the small mammals - which are often mistaken for brown rats - to be tracked by conservationists. Different colours of glitter could be used to allow conservationists to track different families of water voles and how far they might sound like a fun idea, but Mr Parry and his team could not be more serious. If they can track where water voles are located in the wild, they can make adjustments to the environment - like removing invasive conifers from wetland habitats or fencing off certain riverbanks to stop sheep grazing. Measures like this could help the species to disperse through the landscape undisturbed and potentially be a life-saving intervention."We'll be able to see the types of territory, the size and where they go in," said Mr Parry."Are they just using the linear features, the ditches, or are they spreading out into the bog and the molinia grassland habitat? "That will be really crucial for when it comes to planning for our upland habitats." The team is first testing out their theory on some captive-bred water voles which are part of a wider Natural Resources Wales (NRW) project to reintroduce colonies into the glitter is spread onto chunks of apple, not part of their normal diet in the wild, but a food the animals love and do well on in captivity, according to Richard Davies from NRW."They get everything they need from apples, carrots, and some dried rabbit food as well," he has successfully bred hundreds of water voles which have been reintroduced into the wild, though he said their release was no guarantee of survival."Most predators in the UK would quite happily take a water vole. They need to be able to cope with this heavy predation and replace themselves a lot," he said. With a BBC News camera present, the glittery purple apple was placed on top of the straw bedding which covered the water voles' 20 minutes, the food remained untouched, but an hour later most of it had success of the project, however, does not just depend on the appetite of the water voles, but how well the glitter can retain its shine from end to Parry said without interventions like this, the future for water voles was uncertain."It's been a perfect storm of bad things that's happened to water voles in the last few decades," he said."We have drained an awful lot of their wetland habitat, forced them into linear ditches where we find them now, and then the biggest problem is the American mink, an invasive species that was let out and released from pens and they just turned out to be the perfect water vole predators. The water voles don't stand a chance, really."But now, at least, he is more hopeful. The water voles, known for being nervous about any changes to to their environment, had not rejected the did the experiment work? Just 24 hours later, a tiny glittery poo was spotted. The conservation team was elated.
