BELFAST Zoo is to mark national Red Squirrel Awareness Week with the release of the rodents in counties Antrim and Down as part of a successful breeding programme.
The squirrrels are to be released in both Dunnywater Country Park and Carnfunnock Country Park in the coming days.
Despite being present for more than 10,000 years, red squirrels have declined dramatically due to loss of habitat and diseases spread by the invasive grey squirrel.
Zoo manager Alyn Cairns said it had been "exceptional year with our red squirrels and we are delighted that we are able to add Dunnywater as a sixth release site for the zoo’s breeding programme.
"The site, outside Annalong was deemed suitable for the release of two red squirrels due to the ongoing efforts of several organisations including Mourne Heritage Trust, Belfast Zoo, The Forest Service, NI Water and The Northern Ireland Environment Agency, who came together to prepare the area as part of a nationwide scheme to enhance the population of this beautiful and threatened species," he said.
Two additional squirrels will also be released at Carnfunnock Country Park, a site which saw the successful release of several red squirrels from the zoo last year.
