Reintroduction of species after near extinction.
It is a well known fact that hunting animals is a common practice for many and that it can lead to extremely adverse consequences on ecosystems and species in certain areas.
It has been noted many times that hunting animals such as pine martens, hunted in the Forest of Dean, was extremely common in the UK. In the Forest of Dean pine martens were hunted almost to extinction around the turn of the 20th century. Between 1900 AD and 2000 AD the pine marten stayed critically endangered in England. However, the pine marten population was higher in Scotland. It still remained low but as opposed to the non-existent population in England the 3,000 pine marten figure was quite impressive.
Due to the higher population in Scotland it was decided that the Forest of Dean was the perfect place to reintroduce the small species due to its quiet and protected woodland areas. In 2016, twelve pine martens were successfully brought from Scotland to England and introduced into the Forest of Dean and Lower Wye Valley. Another 23 pine martens were transported from Scotland to the Forest with the support of Gloucestershire wildlife trust and forestry England. The project even extended as far as Wales and around 50 pine martens were introduced into the Welsh countryside this significantly increased the British pine marten population leading to positive impacts on woodland ecosystems and easier ways of life for the small animals.
It is now estimated that the population is approximately 42 pine martens surviving in the Forest of Dean and that around 4 litters of kits (young pine martens) have been born and successfully raised.
