Report documents lost and endangered species in West Midlands

• Mar. 12 by Mitchell Jones (1)

The West Midlands has lost over eight types of animal and plant in the last 2000 years, according to a new report.

“Lost Life: England’s Lost and Threatened Species” claims that the Chalkhill blue butterfly is just one of a number of species extinct within the region.

Natural England. the national agency who compiled the “most complete” audit of hundreds of years of wildlife in the United Kingdom, also states that more species may die out if action is not taken as soon as possible.

The Birmingham Post, in reporting the news on their website, outlined the key reasons as to why the region had lost so many of its species:

While a few “big, hairy and scary” animals such as bears and wolves were hunted to extinction, most vanished species have gone because of land management changes including the industrialisation of farming, habitat loss, persecution and pollution.

And even where species have not become extinct at a national level, many have disappeared from some parts of the country, leaving populations fragmented and more at risk from threats including storms and a changing climat

Although many species have died out within the country, Lost Life has categorised many of them by regions where their presence has been eradicated. In the West Midlands, extinct species include the Twite Marsh, hister beetle, and bog orchid.

The report circulated throughout the evening via Twitter, with many giving their thoughts on the issue.

jpglavenvalley wrote:

i suppose this does happen but to [sic] quickly

And billygrammar added:

Sad to see hundreds of animal and plant species near extinction. More than two die out a year in England, Natural England says.