RAUK - Archived Forum - Translocation of slow worms

Afternoon everyone.  My topic involves asking advice on potentially suitable receptor sites where I can translocate 3 separate slow worm populations to.  These populations are currently located in sites to be developed in and around bristol and chippenham.  I know that one of the populations is an 'exceptional' population and the others are likely to be medium to high.  The likelihood is that I will need to commence translocation in spring /autumn 2006, which obviously doesn't leave long to establish any habitat enhancements.  If anyone can help with suggestions for receptor sites, please let me know.  Many thanks indeed.  Sarah.

First of all you will need to look for sites which are similar to the donor site in terms of habitat, aspect, connectivity etc - you should look for sites which are as close as possible to the donor site in order to prevent a conservation loss of reptiles from the local area.

The reptile mitigation in the Uk is based around the welfare of animals - killing and injury - and the legal obligation of developers and land managers not to intentionally kill or injure reptiles.

It has been suggested that in situ conservation measures i.e. redesigning the development to have areas where reptiles are provided for in the development.

This all depends on what you can do with your client - though I would suggest that you would need to survey any selected receptor site prior to any translocation or indeed enhancement works - as you may be moving animals from one exceptional population to another exceptional population - you need to find a large area with a small population of slowworms so that major enhancements can be made over the spring so that slowworms can be moved over -

I would suggest looking for as many local sites as possible so you can establish lots of colonies so that any future monitoring can pick up established colonies - You are gonna to say that there is no legal obligation to monitor arent you well as conservationists we should be looking at ways to inform the way reptile translocations are undertaken and it would probably take a bit of imaginative thinking to get a monitoring programme ready with local groups, interested parties such as land owners - A payment up front can provide expenses to surveyors though can you find people to help?

It is important to note down as much as you can about the translocation - number of animals, photo id, weights and lengths etc - locations of receptor sites - all this information should be passed onto the local recorder/ records office so that in the future an assessment can be made on these sites say 5 to 10 years down the line....

JC

Thanks for your reply.  Unfortunately, retaining the populations in-situ is not possible. 

Yes, the potential receptor sites will be surveyed prior to translocation and I am aware of my requirement to match like with like in terms of habitat quality and area. 

What I need help with is actually locating sites, preferably nature reserves or habitat enhancement projects, new roads for example with embankments known not yet to support reptiles.  As is always the case, lack of time available is a key factor.  Any suggestions would be gratefully received.

So, would it be acceptable to disperse the slow worms over a number of different sites, if the sites are small for example?

Yes, we will be monitoring the translocated populations in each case.  This has already been costed to the client.

Yes, we will be collating as much info about individual reptiles caught as possible.

Thanks again.

For me, you're gonna make a major, responsibly thought out & determined effort to save the lives of the poor things, & that's what counts foremostly. Count numbers, yes, but if i couldn't be that bothered to, or didn't have the time, or the means with which to fuss with photoing, weighing & measuring every Slowworm, then i personally wouldn't.  Right, or wrong, i'd probably prefer to just keep on gettin' down'n'dirty, spending as much time as possible in searching out & rescuing as many Slowworms as possible. I wouldn't want to leave behind the smallest, most awkward to find juvenile, if i could help it. With Slowworms being burrowers, & small-worm sized juveniles able to get into practically any nook, or cranny, you're gonna have your precious time & work cut out enough as it is! I'd gladly help if i lived in the rescue areas. Anyway, thoroughly well done for what you're gonna do, & good luck with finding absolutely as many Slowies as you determinedly, possibly can. All the very best!  

Mick.   

People are now questioning the logic of saving every last animal - and it is most definitely the case that not every animal will be caught - the most important thing really is to get money spent on habitat management etc to benefit the animals in the longer term

Try to get those animals but of course finding the required sites would be the challenge which lots of consultants face - I would say that we can learn more about the animals if standard measurements are taken from animals which are relocated we may be able to refine the practise of 'bucketing and dumping'

JC

Thanks for all the advice its much apprieciated.

Cheers,

stuart