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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Rare bumblebee coming back to UK | Rare bumblebee coming back to UK |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A bumblebee which is extinct in the UK is to be reintroduced from New Zealand under plans being announced. | |
| The short-haired bumblebee was exported from the UK to New Zealand on the first refrigerated lamb boats in the late 19th Century to pollinate clover crops. | The short-haired bumblebee was exported from the UK to New Zealand on the first refrigerated lamb boats in the late 19th Century to pollinate clover crops. |
| It was last seen in the UK in 1988, but populations on the other side of the world have survived. | It was last seen in the UK in 1988, but populations on the other side of the world have survived. |
| Now Natural England and several other conservation groups have launched a scheme to bring the species home. | Now Natural England and several other conservation groups have launched a scheme to bring the species home. |
| International rescue | International rescue |
| Poul Christensen, Natural England's acting chairman, said; "Bumblebees are suffering unprecedented international declines and drastic action is required to aid their recovery. | Poul Christensen, Natural England's acting chairman, said; "Bumblebees are suffering unprecedented international declines and drastic action is required to aid their recovery. |
| "Bumblebees play a key role in maintaining food supplies - we rely on their ability to pollinate crops and we have to do all we can to provide suitable habitat and to sustain the diversity of bee species. | "Bumblebees play a key role in maintaining food supplies - we rely on their ability to pollinate crops and we have to do all we can to provide suitable habitat and to sustain the diversity of bee species. |
| "This international rescue mission has two aims - to restore habitat in England, thereby giving existing bees a boost; and to bring the short-haired bumblebee home where it can be protected." | "This international rescue mission has two aims - to restore habitat in England, thereby giving existing bees a boost; and to bring the short-haired bumblebee home where it can be protected." |
| As many as 100 of the bees will initially be collected in New Zealand and a captive breeding plan established, with the aim of eventually releasing them at Dungeness, Kent, where they were last seen. | As many as 100 of the bees will initially be collected in New Zealand and a captive breeding plan established, with the aim of eventually releasing them at Dungeness, Kent, where they were last seen. |
| They will be flown back on planes in cool boxes, and will not be disturbed, according to Natural England, as they will be in hibernation during transit. | They will be flown back on planes in cool boxes, and will not be disturbed, according to Natural England, as they will be in hibernation during transit. |
| The scheme's project officer Nikki Gammans, of the Stirling-based Bumblebee Conservation Trust, said the bee was a "keystone species" which was key to pollinating around 80% of important crops. | |
| "By creating the right habitat for these bumblebees, we are recreating wildflower habitat that has been lost, which will be good for butterflies, water voles and nesting birds." | "By creating the right habitat for these bumblebees, we are recreating wildflower habitat that has been lost, which will be good for butterflies, water voles and nesting birds." |
| The partnership project is being run by Natural England, the Bumblebee Conservation Trust the RSPB and Hymettus. |