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| Guide to Protected Species |
Many of our butterflies in Britain are suffering due to the impact of man on the natural environment. Continued 'development' has made many species extremely vulnerable. As a result, many species of butterfly and moth are protected by various UK Government and European Union laws.
Despite this protection, our own government is guilty of breaking its own laws by allowing planning permission to build roads, houses and other so called 'developments' on designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI's). Butterflies, don't have a voice, so its up to those committed to saving them to ensure that our elected MP's and unelected civil servants ensure that laws are upheld and the protection of our wildlife is paramount in any decision making process. |
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| Butterflies offered Full Protection under UK Law |
In 1981 the UK Wildlife and Countryside Act gave the Heath Fritillary, Large Blue and Swallowtail full protection by law in the UK. By 1998, the Marsh Fritillary and Large
Copper were also added to the list.
In 1992, due to significant declines across England and Wales, the High
Brown Fritillary was also added to the protected species list.
It is a criminal offence to disturb in any way or collect these species (as eggs, caterpillars, chrysalis or adults... this includes netting adults to aid identification in the field even if they are released unharmed).
Exceptions to this rule are those individuals who have been granted an official licence to handle these species for conservation purposes. It is also illegal to trade in these species, either as live adults or as 'pinned' specimens. Unfortunately, this law does not apply to 'captive bred' livestock. |
In 1989, the following species were protected by the UK Wildlife and Countryside Act by prohibition of sale only.
Adonis Blue, Black Hairstreak, Brown Hairstreak, Chalkhill Blue, Chequered Skipper, Duke of Burgundy, Glanville Fritillary, Large Heath, Large Tortoiseshell, Lulworth Skipper, Marsh Fritillary, Mountain Ringlet, Northern Brown Argus, Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Purple Emperor, Silver-spotted Skipper, Silver-studded Blue, Small Blue, White-letter Hairstreak, Wood White.
Anyone found selling these species (eggs, larvae, pupae, adult butterflies or 'pinned' specimens) are breaking the law unless they have a special permit/licence and could face a prison sentence or heavy fines. Unfortunately, this law does not apply to 'captive bred' livestock. The source of such 'captive bred' stock is the subject of much debate. It is impossible to be 100% certain of the origin of species purchased from livestock dealers.
Species protected under the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act are reviewed every five years.
More Information
Further documentation concerning the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act (with ammendments) can be found on the Office of Public Sector Archives web site. |
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Sold to the highest bidder... |
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The extinct British Race of the Large Blue
apparently collected in Cornwall in 1911. |
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This 'pinned' specimen of a Large Blue was made available for sale on Ebay in December 2008 and was being sold on the basis that it was an old specimen collected before the UK Wildlife and Countryside Act became law.
How sure can you be that this is an old specimen?
Would you take a strangers word for it when their primary goal is to make money? |
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| Overview of IUCN Categories |
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New Red List 2007 |
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Published in 2007, the New Red List of British Butterflies
Fox, R., Warren, M & Brereton, T.
(2007) New Red List of British Butterflies. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham.
available as a pdf download from the Butterfly Conservation web site. |
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Red Data Book 1999 |
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Published in 1999, the Red Data Book was the first comprehensive review of the 576 known resident butterfly species across Europe. The report shows that 71 species across Europe are threatened due to changes in land-use. 43 other species are classed as near threatened.
The following threatened British species have been given the following classification.
The Large Blue was classified as being endangered.
The Lulworth Skipper, Marsh Fritillary and Large Heath were classified as being vulnerable.
The Duke of Burgundy and Scotch Argus were classified as being near threatened.
Van Swaay, C.A.M. & Warren, M.S.
(1999)
Red Data book of European butterflies (Rhopalocera). Nature and Environment, No. 99, Council of Europe Publishing, Strasbourg.
For more information and to download the report, visit the Butterfly Conservation web site. |
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