Reintroduction of the chequered skipper into Rockingham Forest, Northamptonshire
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- Monitoring points:
- Species observations:
Test project
No
Project summary
To establish healthy populations of chequered skipper in England.
Overall aim
Reintroduction of chequered skipper (Carterocephalus palaemon) a species of butterfly that occurs across Europe, Asia and North America. It is declining in several European countries and is included on European Red Lists (Heath 1981a). At this point the species became extinct in England.
Name of species translocated
Carterocephalus palaemon
How many species?
1
Monitoring form type
Translocation generic records
Project timeline
The first translocation occurred in 2018. On that occasion, a total of 42 individuals were translocated. In 2019, 24 individuals were translocated to the same site. After that, the populations have been annually monitored. The project is still ongoing according to information reported by Wells and Heydon (2022). It is also known that, in 2018 and 2019, individuals were translocated from Ardenne forests in Belgium to Rockingham Forest, England.
Funding body
Butterfly Conservation
National Lottery Heritage Fund (NHLF)
Project team - organisational or group members
Nigel Bourn , Susannah O’Riordan, Tammy Shadbolt, Dirk Maes, Philippe Goffart, Antony W. Sainsbury, Caroline Bulman, Dan Hoare, Robin Field, Jon Curson, Jamie Wildman, Jenny Jaffe, Helen Donald and Sam Ellis
Translocation aims
Species recovery (restoration to all or part of a species’ range)
Improving genetic diversity at recipient site
Additional outcome details
The study still ongoing
Lessons learned
Number of sightings counted in 2019 was higher than 2020, but the study is still ongoing, so no conclusion can be made.
Country
England
Region or locality
Rockingham Forest
How many release sites?
1
Were experts or guidance consulted prior to the translocation?
Consulted written guidance
Add further information on guidance sought
Maes, D., Ellis, S., Goffart, K.L., Van Swaay, C.A.M., Cors, R., Herremans, M., Swinnen, K.R.R., Wils, C., Verhulst, S., De Bruyn, L., Matthysen, E., O’Riodan, S., Hoare, D.J., and Bourn, N.A.D. 2019. The potential of species distribution modelling for reintroduction projects: the case study of the Chequered Skipper in England. Journal of Insect Conservation 23, 419-431.
Images
Species
Species benefits
Improved national status of species
Scientific benefits
Improve translocation practice
Biological risk assessment
Distance of the translocation