Posted January 8, 2015 in All
In 2008, Colchester Zoo teamed up with Tendring District Council, Natural England and Writtle College to initiate the captive breeding programme for the Fisher’s Estuarine Moth at Colchester Zoo. The breeding programme was set up to provide a readily available supply of moths which could be sent to newly-created sites to ensure the long-term survival of this species.
2014 has been a successful year for the Fisher’s Estuarine Moth breeding project; batches of eggs were found in October at the Colchester Zoo breeding site, which will be used for the breeding programme in the future at this location and to help start new, similar captive breeding set ups elsewhere in the UK.
The wild populations of the moth at the other sites linked to the project have also had a successful year with populations continuing to grow each year and nearly all of the 24 sites having seen signs of moth larvae feeding in July and August.
The Fisher’s Estuarine Moth is a British species of high conservation priority; the moth is legally protected under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010, is also listed in the British Red Data Book and has an Essex Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP).
