Water vole legislation increased in Wales As from 12th August 2008, legal protection for water voles within Wales will increase, under Schedule 5 of the WCA, 1981. The legal protection of water voles in Wales is now equivalent to England, where the updates came into force in April 2008. Until now, legislation has only protected the water voles places of shelter. The new legislation will give water voles the maximum protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981, making it an illegal offence to kill, injure, take from the wild or sell a water vole. The maximum penalty under this Act is a fine of £5000 or 6 months imprisonment Other species included in the increased protection under schedule 5 of the WCA, 1981 include the angel shark, roman snail, spiny seahorse and short-snouted seahorse.

Chytrid fungus in Amphibians Chytridiomycosis, or chytrid as it is commonly called, is a potentially - deadly disease which affects all native amphibians including frogs, toads and newts. It is caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and affects the cells of keratinised skin.
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Ospreys in Wales and Bee-eaters in Herefordshire!
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Licences for Water Voles?
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Norway, Iceland and Japan seek majority in International Whaling Commission to commence commercial Whale fishing.
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