Photograph by Sarah McNeil

Red Squirrel Vaccine Appeal 

The photographs show what happens to a red squirrel when it gets the disease, squirrelpox (SQP). The painful lesions spread from the skin around the eyes, nose and throat and even reach the feet, As the disease progresses the reds may die from secondary infections contracted through the raw skin but it is accepted that the vast majority, crippled and blinded and no longer able to feed themselves, starve to death. It can take a red squirrel three weeks to die after being infected with the SQP virus.
  Although the alien grey squirrels carry the SQP virus, it does not affect them. As they encroach into areas which still hold red squirrels, they infect the reds with fatal results. It has been shown that the already rapid advance of the grey squirrel into red squirrel territory, through competition for food, is increased by a factor of twenty as the reds are decimated by the disease that the greys carry. Because of this, it has been estimated that the English red squirrels will be extinct in ten years.
  In order to save the red squirrel, it is essential to develop a squirrelpox vaccine. The Wildlife Ark Trust has already held talks with an internationally recognized research institute. The institute has agreed to conduct this research which it is estimated will cost £760,000. Because of the long lead time required to produce a safe and effective vaccine it is vital that work commences as soon as possible. The funding for this research is to be raised by public appeal. If you would like to donate to this appeal, you can make donations with credit/debit cards through donate now, or fill in and return our donations form.
  Any additional funding raised will go towards the Trust’s other red squirrel conservation work.

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