{"id":43476,"date":"2024-11-04T11:33:11","date_gmt":"2024-11-04T10:33:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/32dddaa3-774f-4f90-a432-b41008f25548"},"modified":"2024-11-04T12:27:29","modified_gmt":"2024-11-04T11:27:29","slug":"massive-leeches-are-being-grown-in-the-middle-of-london-heres-why","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/massive-leeches-are-being-grown-in-the-middle-of-london-heres-why\/","title":{"rendered":"Massive leeches are being grown in the middle of London. Here’s why"},"content":{"rendered":"

Scientists hope to release the huge blood suckers into the UK countryside. <\/p>

By <\/p>

Published: Monday, 04 November 2024 at 10:33 AM<\/p>

\n\n

An endangered leech species is on the brink of extinction in the UK, with only four populations left \u2013 but conservationists have stepped in to save it.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>

Medicinal leeches are endangered in the UK\/Freshwater Habitats Trust <\/figcaption> <\/figure>

Once a relatively common species, the medicinal leech is the largest native leech species in the UK.<\/p>

Its decline began with the historical medicine trade (it is still important in medicine, used to increase blood circulation), and more recently by the drainage of wetlands and changes in land use.<\/p>

The Freshwater Habitats Trust<\/a> and ZSL London Zoo<\/a> have started breeding them in captivity, and hope to reintroduce them back into the wild in the UK soon.\u00a0<\/p>

Leech recovery in Dorset and infant leeches at London Zoo\/Freshwater Habitats Trust and London Zoo <\/figcaption> <\/figure>

Main image: Adult medicinal leech at London Zoo’s Tiny Giants habitat\/London Zoo<\/em><\/p>

More wildlife stories from around the world<\/strong><\/p>