THE reintroduction of pine martens to Exmoor has moved a step closer with 15 of the animals recently released on Dartmoor.

Pioneering conservation work over the past two years led by The Two Moors Pine Marten Project saw eight adult females and seven adult males released in secret locations on Dartmoor last month.

A second phase of the project will see a similar release of pine martens next year to Exmoor sites for the first time since the 1800s.

Conservationists have hailed last month’s release as a historic step in the restoration of the Westcountry’s woodlands and their wildlife.

The project is being led by the charity Devon Wildlife Trust (DWT) in partnership with Dartmoor and Exmoor national park authorities, Somerset Wildlife Trust (SWT), Forestry England, the National Trust, and the Woodland Trust, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The Dartmoor release of pine martens was the first phase in plans to establish a resident population of the cat-sized, tree-climbing members of the weasel family.

Pine martens went extinct in the Westcountry more than 100 years ago after centuries of losses of their favoured woodland living places, and because of hunting and trapping.

The pine martens have been sourced from healthy wild populations in Scotland using expert assistance from the Vincent Wildlife Trust.

After three days of quiet acclimatisation, their pen doors were opened and the pine martens allowed to make their first historic steps on to Dartmoor.

The project is now carefully monitoring the progress of the 15 animals, each of which has been fitted with an unobtrusive radio collar to allow their movements to be tracked before they drop off after six to nine months.

Exmoor National Park Authority senior ecologist Ali Hawkins said: “We are delighted to see the first release of pine martens back into the South West.

“It has been an amazing partnership effort over a number of years to get to this point and we are excited this will pave the way for a release on Exmoor next year.

“We have historical evidence these amazing animals used to be in our Exmoor woodlands and their presence will help to re-address the ecological balance and drive forward nature recovery.”

DWT conservation manager Ed Parr Ferris said: “Pine martens are stunning members of the weasel family, about two feet long, weighing just 1.5 kilos, with their creamy-orange bibs contrasting against their smooth chocolate-coloured coat.

“They are amazingly well adapted for life in the woodland night, with strong claws, lithe bodies, fantastic hearing, and even reversible rear ankles helping them to run down trees.

“These rare mammals need our help to return to their former homes in the South West, but we also need their help to bring back the natural balance of wildlife to our woodlands.”

SWT human-wildlife co-existence officer Alicia Hallatt said: “Successfully completing this next stage is a real beacon of hope that we can restore a healthy environment and reconnect with nature to the benefit of us and future generations.”