A NAVY helicopter has flown members of an endangered squirrel species out to an isolated island for a special mission – to breed.
The colony of 20 red squirrels was supplied by the British Wildlife Centre in Surrey, and was last week flown to Tresco, one of the Isles of Scilly, off of Cornwall, in the hope they will flourish there.
Britain's native red squirrel population has been decimated by squirrel pox – a virus carried by grey squirrels who are immune to it – so Tresco was chosen as the site for a red suirrel colony because, as the island is cut off from the mainland, there is little or no danger of grey squirrel contact.
The new deliveries, which left the Newchapel wildlife centre last Tuesday and were released into Tresco Abbey Gardens on Friday, will join four other red squirrels donated by the centre and released on the island last year.
British Wildlife Centre owner David Mills said: "This is such an exciting initiative in red squirrel conservation.
"The island environment is ideal, providing a safe haven free from the American grey squirrel, which is an aggressive competitor for food and can carry the deadly squirrel pox virus, to which reds are so susceptible. The gardens' visitors are in for a real treat."
The endangered native red squirrel is about half the size of the grey squirrel, which was introduced from the US in the late 19th century.
There are thought to be just 140,000 red squirrels left in the wild in the UK, compared with more than two million grey ones. Tresco is the ideal breeding ground for the rouge rodents.
The second-biggest island of the Isles of Scilly, at almost 300 hectares in size, its habitat varies from a windswept northern plateau to beautiful beaches, and is considered a safe haven for animals.
Mike Nelhams, of Tresco Abbey Gardens, agreed the site is an ideal breeding ground for the new inhabitants and said the colony could start breeding as early as next year.
Mr Nelhams said: "We have a lovely woodland for them, there are no natural predators and with no grey squirrels, they are safe from squirrel pox."
The squirrels are reportedly settling into their new habitat well – and are in a buoyant mood.
