Why King Charles Has Declared a Full-Blown War on Squirrels
Having been a long-standing advocate of nature preservation, King Charles' latest move may leave many confused.
Having been a long-standing advocate of nature preservation, King Charles' latest move may leave many confused. He recently declared direct war against none other than gray squirrels. Yes, you read it right! The King is on a mission to remove the very species from the UK. But before you jump to any conclusion, let us tell you that Charles is taking the step to protect the native red squirrels of the UK!
Many are unaware that the gray squirrels carry a squirrelpox virus that is fatal to red squirrels. As a result, the native population is dwindling to an estimated 140,000, while gray squirrels have reached over 3 million. So, compelled by the deteriorating situation, the King has now decided to take things into his own hands to eradicate gray squirrels in an attempt to prevent damage to woodlands and forests. Talking more about the severity of the situation, Daily Mail added, "The King is backing a full-blown fight against the bushy-tailed invaders that have been wreaking havoc on the countryside for decades."
Explaining the situation, the outlet added, "Gray squirrels, originally brought over from North America, have been blamed for destroying woodlands, and even worse, spreading squirrelpox, a virus that's deadly to our native red squirrels. The result? Well, Britain's beloved reds are on the brink and could be extinct in England by 2050." Elaborating on the King's plan, they added, "Scientists are now testing something straight out of wildlife sci-fi: squirrel contraception. The idea is simple. Make gray squirrels infertile, shrink their numbers, and give red squirrels a fighting chance."
While the project was just recently introduced, the UK authorities have already taken action. "Special feeders, designed only for heavier grays, are being rolled out in forests, filled with paste that could soon contain contraceptives," shared the outlet. Talking about the public reaction to the project, they continued, "And the public? Surprisingly on board. According to YouGov, around 42% of Brits support the sterilization plan. So it might be a very bad day to be a gray squirrel."
Praising the new project, Charles Kinnoull, chairman of the U.K. Squirrel Accord, told the Times, “It is the most exciting prospect I have seen for controlling greys." He added, “I don’t harbor a great extermination instinct, but I am interested in protecting our broadleaf trees and there being red squirrels around for my children to see.” Charles has reportedly already made a "very generous" donation to the Red Squirrel Survival Trust to further strengthen and support their undertaking to eliminate gray squirrels from certain areas.
The species even damages trees by stripping bark, which hurts timber production and biodiversity. The King has been supporting several projects to save the red squirrels for over a decade, including his 2014 "squirrel accord" project, and subsequently, he even joined the Red Squirrel Survival Trust.
