Prince Charles Thinks Red Squirrels Are "Charming And Irresistible"

Prince Charles thinks red squirrels are "utterly charming and irresistible." The 60-year-old royal will speak about his sadness at the decline of the tiny mammals at the launch of the Red Squirrel Survival Trust in Cumbria, north-west England.

View Photos [39]
View Profile
View All News

He is also expected to announce a project to reintroduce the native red species - which is currently endangered because of the spread of grey squirrels from North America - into the U.K.

Charles has experienced the damage grey squirrels can cause first hand - a number of native plants at his home in Highgrove, Gloucestershire have been destroyed by the wayward creatures.

In a letter of support for the new charity, the he wrote: "The grey squirrels, which exist in far greater number than the reds, are causing incalculable damage to our native trees particularly the beech."

The heir to the throne fondly recalled seeing reds in Sandringham, Norfolk as a child but now only spots them on royal estates in Scotland.

He added: "I am incredibly fortunate to see red squirrels whenever I am in Scotland and I cannot bear the thought that one day they might disappear forever, driven out by the relentless march of the greys."

Grey squirrels were introduced in the 19th century carrying a disease that quickly killed of the native species.

Charles added: "Our red squirrels are facing a battle for survival. It seems almost incomprehensible to me that we have allowed this situation to happen."

"The far bigger grey squirrels, which were only introduced into this country one hundred and thirty years ago are outcompeting the reds in every way, let alone infecting them with the appalling squirrel pox, to which they are immune, but to which the reds are particularly prone and die a lingering and agonizing death."

A number of organizations, including the Scottish Government, have launched projects to trap and kill grays and more than 50,000 have been killed in the last five years.

The Red Squirrel Survival Trust will unite these organizations to co-ordinate large-scale grey eradication and the establishment of new red colonies.