Saving the Hazel Dormouse: A Conservation Success Story at Hanwell Zoo

Once common across the UK, hazel dormice are now rare. Hanwell Zoo have a breeding programme and have sent off five young dormice to participate in the Hazel dormouse re-introduction programme. The youngsters are in quarantine at The Zoological Society of London before being put forward for release in areas around the UK to re-establish wild populations.

The youngsters are the offspring of a pair of Hazel Dormouse kept at Hanwell Zoo. The programme is run by the captive breeding dormouse working group (CBDG). This consists of a number of zoos and wildlife groups working together to release these animals back into their native habitat.

Hanwell Zoo has been part of the group for over 20 years now and has been instrumental in pulling the Hazel dormouse back from the brink of extinction in the UK, through the release of captive bred animals. The group are meeting at Hanwell Zoo next year. The captive breeding programme at Hanwell is led by Senior Keeper David Palmer who has been instrumental in making the project such a success.

Hazel Dormouse

From being common across the UK now hazel dormice are rare. They are at risk of extinction due to woodland habitat loss and mismanagement. Hazel dormice are the UK’s only native dormouse. Mainly found in the southern half of the UK, with strongholds in Devon, Somerset, Sussex and Kent.

Dormice are excellent indicators of biodiversity, as habitats that support them also benefit the woodland, like birds, bats, and butterflies. A great reason to reversing their decline and promoting the recovery of British woodlands to create healthier, more diverse ecosystems.

Dormice have become extinct in 17 counties within their historical range. In the UK, numbers and distribution have declined dramatically within the last 100 years; population declined by 50% since 2000. The dormice disperse slowly so even when woodland and hedgerow management improves, they’re highly unlikely to naturally recolonise. So this is where the reintroduction programme comes in, to help dormice return to areas.

Since 1993 a group of conservation organisations led by wildlife charity People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and including ZSL – Zoological society for London, have successfully reintroduced over 1,000 dormice in 13 different counties across the UK. This is an attempt to reverse the ongoing decline. These annual reintroductions are part of Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme and involve a unique partnership of organisations who each play a key role. The aim of the programme is to restore dormice to counties and areas where they have gone extinct.

Dormouse Reintroduction in UK

The hazel dormice is a Biodiversity Action Plan species (BAP); a status that offers protection and conservation plans in order to halt or reverse the decline. They are fully protected by law, and cannot be intentionally killed, injured, or disturbed in its nest. A license is needed to trap, handle or collect a dormouse.

The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) quarantine the animals for six weeks. After quarantine around the animals are placed in mating pairs in large release cages. These cages are in the woodland and allowed to familiarise themselves with their new home. After 10 days, small openings are made in the cages so the dormice can leave their release cage. A supply of food for two months is provided. After that they should be able to find their own food.

The woodlands selected for reintroduction will have a long-term management plan to support dormice. They will have the potential for the dormice to disperse into the wider countryside once established. There also needs to be an on-site a committed volunteer group to assist the release and do long-term monitoring.

The focus of the project is the geographical location to the edge of the current range as shown on the map below.

Ealing Wildlife Group

Here in Ealing, we also have the inspiring Ealing Wildlife group is a community of wildlife enthusiasts protecting, encouraging and celebrating nature through education, collaboration and conservation. Locally they are reintroducing harvest mice and set up an enclosure for beavers re-introduction to the Ealing. Plus many other nature and conservation projects, so head on over to their website to find out more.

Hanwell Zoo

Hanwell Zoo, formerly Brent Lodge Park Animal Centre is situated within the beautiful Brent Lodge Park in Hanwell. It is home to a selection of birds, mammals as well as other cheeky residents like Hatari the porcupine, our mob of meerkats and our flock of Flamingos. So its worth a visit with friends, family and the kids.

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