Twycross Zoo launches project to bring back extinct native species...
21st Mar 2025
Leading conservation charity, Twycross Zoo, alongside Butterfly Conservation, Natural England and Forestry England, has announced the launch of an important conservation project, which aims to reintroduce the extinct Kentish glory moth to England.
The project, which was recently nominated for a prestigious Great British Wildlife Restoration Award, has been dubbed ‘Project Glory’, is a collaborative effort between Twycross Zoo, Butterfly Conservation, Natural England, and Forestry England; and if successful will mark the first ever moth reintroduction project in England.
Whilst small, isolated population exist in Scotland and in some European countries, the Kentish glory has not been seen in England since the early 1970s. British populations have been depleted due to the changes of traditional woodland management and the replacement of broadleaved trees with conifer plantations, which subsequently impacted the nation’s biodiversity.
Moths are known as indicator species, meaning that the overall health of an ecosystem can be inferred by monitoring their population levels. The loss of the Kentish glory provides a significant warning sign for conservationists, indicating that changes need to happen before more native species are lost and costly reintroductions are needed.
Since launching Project Glory, a team of conservationists from Twycross Zoo and Butterfly Conservation have completed their first major milestone. Having travelled to the Cairngorms, Scotland, the team were able to collect DNA samples from the existing populations there to help further chances of a successful reintroduction in the future. Working with the University of Leicester, these DNA samples will be used to investigate the genetics of the existing populations.
Erinna (Ezz) Miles, UK Biodiversity Conservation Coordinator at Twycross Zoo, is part of the team paving the way for moths in England. Ezz commented, “I’m delighted to be part of the team working to make a reintroduction of the Kentish glory moth in England possible.
“Moths are misunderstood and despite the current lack of Kentish glory in England, moths have been part of life on earth for at least fifty million years. They are a vital part of our ecosystem, which I why it is so important that we play our part to preserve this species.”
Dr Stuart Young, Twycross Zoo’s Conservation Programmes Manager, added, “As a conservation charity, our primary purpose is to save the species with whom we share our planet. Whilst this often has a global impact, we are equally committed to protecting the species and habitats that are right here on our doorstep.
“Amid the continued deterioration of native species, we are proud to have launched this important project in collaboration with Butterfly Conservation, Natural England, and Forestry England, focusing on the preservation of a native species and marking a significant milestone in the zoo’s conservation strategy.”
Dr Tom Prescott, Head of Conservation at Butterfly Conservation Scotland said, “Kentish glory is a large, beautiful, iconic moth that since the 1970s has been restricted in the Uk to Scotland. However, even here we have growing concerns due to its relatively ephemeral habitat requirements, low powers of dispersal, habitat fragmentation and resulting isolation of populations. Last month, we declared a UK-wide Butterfly Emergency to highlight the plight of precious rare species like the Kentish glory. This project is very welcome to unlock answers to aid its conservation in Scotland.”
Tom Simpson, Wyre Forest Senior Reserve Manager at Natural England, commented “We are looking forward to working with our partners on this project which aims to reintroduce the Kentish glory moth to the Wyre Forest National Nature Reserve.
“By working together to protect, enhance and recover nature we have more chance of success. We hope to see this charismatic moth flying across the forest in the future.”
Richard Boles, Forestry England’s area forester for Wyre Forest said, “In the face of a global climate and ecological crisis, we’re committed to supporting wildlife across the nation’s forests, and reintroducing lost species wherever we can. We are very pleased to be part of this project and we’re looking forward to working together to bring this special moth back to Wyre Forest.”
In the coming months, the team will work alongside project partners, Butterfly Conservation West Midlands Branch, Natural England and Forestry England, to evaluate the feasibility of the reintroduction and the conditions that would be required to make it successful.
Currently, the team has identified a potential reintroduction site, the Wyre Forest, which was the last-known sighting for the species before its extinction in England.
Key next steps for the project will include further genetic analysis undertaken by the University of Leicester, including extracting DNA from ancient samples at the Natural History Museum, to help identify potential source populations for the reintroduction. Then, if the conditions are right for the reintroduction, a moth breeding facility will be set up at Twycross Zoo, which will allow the zoo to build up a population for potential release.
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