PREVIEW

10 tiny rare hazel dormice have been given the all-clear by wildlife vets at conservation charity ZSL, ahead of their release into the wild next month.

Each 20-gram dormouse had a 10-minute appointment with wildlife vets from ZSL’s Institute of Zoology during which their heart and lungs were checked with a stethoscope, and their eyes, ears, nose, teeth and fur were examined. They were also microchipped and x-rayed to check their bones and overall health.

Hazel dormice populations have decreased by a staggering 70% nationally since 2000, but ongoing efforts to restore their populations have seen more than 1,000 dormice reintroduced into 25 woodland habitats in 13 English counties since 1993.

The health checks are part of ZSL's Disease Risk Analysis and Health Surveillance team’s efforts to ensure that animals being released to the wild are fit and healthy enough to be released to the wild and that there is no risk of them passing diseases onto local wildlife.

The dormice will be heading to a secret woodland location this summer as part of the annual reintroduction programme led by People’s Trust for Endangered Species - bringing together ZSL, Natural England, Paignton Zoo, the Common Dormouse Captive Breeders Group, and this year Forestry England and The Greensand Trust – to rebuild populations of this native species.