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Wildlife
- Close
- - We protect wildlife in Britain and around the world by bringing our most threatened species back from the brink of extinction. We do this through ground-breaking research, practical conservation and education, all with the help of our supporters.
Wild places
- Close
- - Some habitats contain such a richness of life that we need to protect them at all odds. We are working to preserve ancient woodlands, orchards and wood pastures and parklands, as well as the countless species they support.
What we do
- Close
- - Everything we do is based on scientific evidence. We gather this through surveys, which you can take part in, and by awarding research grants to the most inspiring scientists worldwide. This evidence guides our conservation efforts and is shared through our events and publications.
Who we are
- Close
- - People’s Trust for Endangered Species was set up in 1977 to save our wildlife. We are governed by a board of volunteer trustees and our team of staff are passionate about protecting endangered species and places.
Success stories
- Close
- - We strive to bring our most threatened species in the UK and around the world back from the brink of extinction. Our successes come from ground-breaking research, practical conservation and education, all with the help of our supporters.
Get involved
- Close
- - There are so many ways you can help save endangered species. Fancy taking part in a survey, joining us on a wildlife event or becoming a regular supporter?
Shop
- Close
- - Support our work in our shop with a range of charity gifts, home-ware, cards and more. 100% of the profits go directly to help wildlife both in the UK an overseas.
Donate
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- - There is nothing natural about the alarming rate at which we are losing animals and their homes. It is absolutely avoidable. We can stop the loss of our wildlife – but we need your support. You can act now by choosing to give to our cause. Thank you.

Home // Research grants // Our UK mammal projects // Reintroducing and monitoring pine martens in Wales

Reintroducing and monitoring pine martens in Wales

Genetic monitoring can help us learn a lot about the newly introduced pine martens in Wales today

This project has now finished

The problem

Until recently pine martens have only been found in Scotland and Northern Ireland, with no sustainable populations in England and Wales. However, in 2015, PTES became one of the major funders for the Vincent Wildlife Trust-led project. This brilliant project successfully translocated 51 pine martens from Scotland to mid-Wales. These pine martens are now established in the Welsh countryside and the females have had kits each year since. During this time we have been able to monitor the animals using camera traps but now to really understand how well the population is doing we have to look at the genetic make-up of the animals.

Camera trap footage of a radio-collared pine marten and its kit

The solution

Genetic monitoring can help us learn a lot about the pine martens in Wales today. It enables us to gain an understanding of how many animals there are, how genetically diverse the group is and how many of the original translocated animals have contributed their genes to this new population. PTES is providing funds to a team at the Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) to investigate further. Over a four week period, fur and scat samples will be collected from the release site and areas around that the animals have colonised. Hair tubes are placed in key areas and baited with chicken; any inquisitive pine marten leaves a small hair sample after entering the tube. Scats will also be collected from footpaths in the same area.

Collecting fur samples using a hair tube

These samples will be genotyped by the Molecular Ecology Research Group at WIT. This means each sample can be identified down to an individual level. Then, any similarities in genes between individuals will enable the team to build up a picture of how related all the pine martens in the population are. The results will also help us identify problems such as skewed breeding success and inbreeding. The release of pine martens back into the Welsh countryside has been a huge success; this work will give us extra valuable information to help these animals thrive into the future.

This project is only possible thanks to our generous donors. Can you help by donating today?

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