Conservation in Action 2025 (EXTERNAL SHARE) - Flipbook - Page 63
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Kentish glory moth - Adam Kay
PLANNING FOR
REINTRODUCTION
Our reintroduction e昀昀orts are backed by scienti昀椀c
methodology, and in 2025 we worked with
University of Nottingham student Lucy Baker,
as part of her PhD placement, who supported
the project by producing a range of species
distribution models and habitat suitability
er,
ak
PhD
Student
En
olà
Lu
cy
Alongside this work, we have also undertaken
habitat management at the release site (Wyre
Forest) for the past winter with support from
partners Natural England, Forestry England,
Butter昀氀y Conservation and West Midlands
Butter昀氀y and Moth Society, plus volunteers and
Twycross Zoo sta昀昀 members. This has resulted in
a lot of action, but also an important opportunity
for our communities to play an active role in the
reintroduction and ensuring this charismatic
moth has suitable habitat for years to come.
B
Our Kentish glory moth reintroduction project
has been ongoing for two years - in 2024 we
began working with the University of Leicester
and the Natural History Museum London to
better understand the genetics of the extant
populations. Since then, we have coordinated
two 昀椀eld visits to the remaining populations in
Scotland, successfully collecting DNA from these
remaining populations. Samples collected have
since been sent to the University of Leicester who
are working in partnership with Twycross Zoo to
better understand the genetic health of these
remaining isolated populations. We have also
successfully carried out DNA sampling across
Europe, by working with eight experts to survey
seven di昀昀erent countries to collect fresh DNA
samples. This involved sending DNA collection
kits to each expert in each di昀昀erent country. The
collection was taken from Kentish glory moths
caught in light traps, using a live catch and release
method. Thanks to the support from the experts,
we now have around 200 fresh samples which
have been sent to the University of Leicester for
processing.
B
Le
S
e, PhD tudent
a sl
maps, for the UK and Europe. These allow us to
identify the best areas for reintroduction, and
also to identify a potential source population from
Europe. Additionally, in 2025 we appointed a a
new PhD student, Enolà Le Basle, in collaboration
with the University of Leicester and CENTA, who
will analyse both the Scottish and European DNA
samples collected in 2025 to better understand the
conservation genomics of the Kentish glory moth.
