Environment

Britain's rarest spider saved from the brink of extinction

by Amy Judd | February 13, 2009 at 01:50 pm

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Britain's rarest spider - the Ladybird Spider - has been saved from being wiped out forever after a successful conservation program. They were almost wiped out in the early 90s due to loss of habitat and at one point there were only about 56 of them left in one area of Dorset.

Natural England has taken charge of the conservation effort, breeding the spiders in captivity and then releasing them into the surrounding areas. The last count revealed that the spiders have increased 20 times in last 15 years.

There are now about 1,000 active Ladybird Spiders.

Dr Helen Phillips, chief executive of Natural England, said the successful programme gave hope to other species under threat in the UK.

She said: "Heathland habitats have become increasingly fragmented and degraded in recent decades, placing the fate of many of our species in the balance.

"There is nothing inevitable about this and no reason why we should simply accept biodiversity loss as an unfortunate price of 21st century life.

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bonksie61

at 18:04 on February 13th, 2009

I took my photograph at the beach in Folkestone, Kent. I didn't even realise these spiders were rare. To me it was just a spider eating a ladybird. I'm glad i got the shot.

bonksie61 has contributed a photo to this story.

Amy Judd

at 18:08 on February 13th, 2009

They are so rare - it's a rare shot you have there!

azliphotography

at 00:45 on February 14th, 2009

this shot was taken in a small bushes area near national zoo of kuala lumpur malaysia. it was my lucky day by seen this kind of "drama" it is a small crab spider eating a ladybird.

azliphotography has contributed a photo to this story.