Conservation groups say they are “thrilled” to have been given a grant of £1.2m to help them reintroduce pine martens to woodland in the south west of England.
Organisations involved in The Two Moors Pine Marten Project have received money from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Around 40 of the animals will be released over the next two years at selected locations on Exmoor and Dartmoor.
The rare creatures were once common across the UK until hunting and habitat loss drove them to the brink of extinction in England and Wales.
I hope this initiative goes well. I have had the privilege of seeing these guys in the wild, and it’s one of the most precious wildlife encounters I have had. They are so charismatic and special. Everyone should get to experience an encounter with a marten.