Facing threats such as illegal logging and hunting, many species are heading towards extinction, but a new survey has revealed that the situation is far worse than previously realised and in fact, lemurs are now considered to be the most endangered group of mammals in the world.
Three year project that aimed to learn more about the lives of wildcats, reached its conclusion last week and announced that a new population had been discovered in Highland Perthshire.
The squirrel parapoxvirus is mostly asymptomatic in its grey host; it has little or no effect. However, once the virus is transmitted to their red cousin it causes the fatal disease known as “squirrel pox”.
Evolution is an amazing thing and perhaps one day people will look back on these studies to demonstrate just how astonishing it can be.
White-nose syndrome is a disease caused by fungus that grows around the wings and muzzle of the bat and kills them by direct contact when they are hibernating.
Previously only illustrations from the 1920’s existed. In fact this is the first time the species have been seen in fifty years.
By the time hunting was banned (albeit belatedly) in 1978, otters had vanished from everywhere except parts of the West Country and parts of Northern England.