Is It Too Late To Save Tufty?

Jan 6 2008 By Raymond Hainey

Scots' Red Squirrels Could Be Gone In 10 Years

A TEAM of scientists are racing against time to save Scotland's red squirrels.

They are trying to create a vaccine against a deadly disease threatening to wipe out the species.

Experts warn they have less than 10 years to find a cure before the native red squirrel is killed off.

Most of Britain's 160,000 red squirrels live north of the border and the killer squirrelpox virus (SQPV) has already spread to the south of Scotland.

Animals infected with SQPV develop skin ulcers, scabs and swelling and most die within two to three weeks.

Professor William Donachie, deputy director of the Moredun Research Institute (MRI) in Penicuik, Midlothian, said work to find a vaccine started this month.

He added: "If something isn't done we will see the end of the red squirrel, which is something we would love to prevent.

"People are tremendously worried about the disappearance of the red squirrel, which is an iconic creature for Scotland."

MRI are a leader in infectious diseases in animals and usually specialise in illnesses affecting farm animals.

The professor said: "We have experts in viruses and these skills are easily transferred to protecting the red squirrel from SQPV."

The killer bug is spread by grey squirrels, which were imported from the US in the 19th century. Greys are immune to the disease.

No one knows how the virus is spread between the two species although research in England suggests ticks or fleas may be responsible.

The two squirrel species share nests - called dreys - and researchers have found evidence that infected parasites left by greys pass the disease by biting reds.

Red Squirrel Protection Partnership's Paul Parker said:"Wethink the reds and the greys are sharing dreys. When the red comes back, it is being bitten by the parasites."

It is hoped tracing the route of infection will help the Moredun team find a cure quicker.

MRI's Dr Colin McInnes, who leads the vaccine research team, said: "It is possibile that it is passed by fleas or ticks or it may just be that the virus is deposited in the dreys and the reds pick it up.

"It could take three to five years to find out whether a vaccine is feasible.

"But if we stand back and do nothing, the future looks very bleak for the red squirrel."

WILDLIFE IN DANGER AROUND THE WORLD

PANAMANIAN GOLDEN FROG

The species survives in just one jungle area of Panama. A worldwide epidemic of a virus deadly to amphibians has cut the population to as little as 2000 frogs - already threatened by the destruction of their jungle habitat.

GIANT PANDA

Under threat as its bamboo forest disappears. Logging, agriculture and China's population expansion mean the panda's mountain habitat has shrunk by half since 1974. Just 1600 are still thought to exist in the wild.

CAPERCAILLIE

The number of Scotland's largest game bird has plummeted from 20,000 to just 1900 in 30 years. Deer fencing and the disappearance of the magnificent bird's natural habitat are the main factors in its decline.

POLAR BEAR

Global warming and the shrinking of the Arctic ice pack, where polar bears live and hunt, have hit the species hard. It is estimated their numbers could decline by nearly a third over the next 30 to 50 years.

ELEPHANT

Both the African and Indian species of the world's biggest land mammal are under threat. Continued illegal poaching for ivory and the destruction of natural habitats are the causes of their decline.