Successful translocations of Pine Martens to recently and historically occupied suitable habitat in southern Britain could be a major proactive step towards improving the conservation status and genetic diversity of this iconic native woodland species.
The Pine Marten Martes martes could arguably be described as one of ‘the big five’ mammal species in Britain and one that many people would like to see in the wild. Yet it currently occupies only a restricted area of its historical range and is the second rarest carnivore in Britain.