The Red Squirrel Tragedy – UK
The saga of the UK Native – “Red Squirrel”.
The recent researchers have revealed a crude realty about the already endangered species of Red squirrels who are the residents of UK. The number of red squirrels is diminishing remarkably due to a particular type of squirrel pox.
It has come from the grey squirrels but the interesting fact is that they do not suffer from the adverse effects of this disease wherein for the red ones it can be as fatal as death. Many the scientists are suggesting a vaccine that can somehow save the red squirrels from being obliterated. Now saving the red squirrels is one of the most important tasks in the agenda of Institute of Zoology as there are only 211,000 of them left in entire UK.
The grey squirrels are far more aggressive in utilizing the resources than the red ones which has resulted in decrease of red squirrels.
The grey species act like a reservoir of squirrel pox and this is why they never suffer from the disease itself. The red ones die within a few days of contamination. It is assumed that the disease weakens their heart and other internal organs which lead to sudden death. But the red species is probably getting ready to fight back. The latest results of the blood sample autopsies of about 500 red squirrels show that they are developing sort of antibody which will prevent the virus from harming them right away. This will ensure their existence on earth though in a smaller number compared to the grey community.
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8 Responses to “The Red Squirrel Tragedy – UK”
On November 7, 2008 at 8:57 am
What do you mean ‘as fatal as death’?
Death can not be any less fatal.
On November 7, 2008 at 10:24 am
Hehe don’t be a smartass. Pay attention the issue at hand!!
On November 7, 2008 at 11:46 am
That’s what survival of the fittest is about. Its natural selection. Leave it alone.
On November 7, 2008 at 11:49 am
The pox has always been there and has been killing reds off since greys were introduced 100ish years ago.
However given that the vaccine is being developed from an anti-viral reaction in the red on question remains….
Should the reds be vaccinated, or should nature be allowed to continue her course? WIll the vaccination ultimately weaken, not strengthen , the reds’ immune system?
On November 7, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Possibly a better idea to institute a breeding program of red squirrels who can survive the pox. My guess is that letting the disease run its course could end with the rarification of red squirrels who can survive it, and that rarification would be dangerous for the species. Vaccination is a very expensive and time consuming process and, (based on what is said about the gray squirrels) is likely only to be a stopgap solution at best. Enhanced natural selection (possibly better-termed nature-initiated eugenics) seems like a better route to keeping the species alive.
On November 7, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Wow… the red squirrels in UK look quite a bit different than the reds of N. America… Our red squirrels looks rather like big chipmunks…
I’m for preserving the reds, even if this means a partial die-off of those whom are not immune, and encourage those whom show partial or more, immunity. I hate to say it, -’because they’re cute,’ the reds should be preserved.
On December 14, 2008 at 11:00 am
That is bad
Hope the scientists succeed in saving them….
On September 29, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Poor little squirrels i think that it will be good for them to be vaccinated!!!!
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