Glow worms, which are not actually worms but rather beetles, are on the endangered species list in several regions of the UK due to causes such as habitat loss and light pollution. Males are often distracted by artificial lighting, leading to missed mating opportunities and a decline in the population. However, ecologist Pete Cooper has taken on the task of breeding and reintroducing glow worms in the south of England.
Cooper’s passion for glow worms has pushed him to go above and beyond to reintroduce them into the wild. He has perfected and scaled up his techniques, which involve breeding the insects and releasing them in areas with natural grassy habitats for the larvae to feast on snails.
Cooper is not the only one trying to save the endangered species. Wildwood in Devon and the Manchester Museum are developing their own glow worm “zoos” using Cooper’s breeding techniques and a local population. And while the government recently announced that the reintroduction of species such as beavers and storks is a low priority, Cooper and other conservationists urge decision-makers to follow international guidelines set by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
Cooper sees his work with glow worms as a symbol of hope in the context of the ongoing biodiversity loss. “This one little glow worm, this little light in the dark, can help be that catalyst for a much bigger change for nature,” he says
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