Ranger Sarah Kilshaw explains: “The pond contained Great Crested Newts – a European Protected Species. Fish eat the eggs and larvae of these newts and so we really needed to remove these fish to make sure that the newts do not suffer.
“After a couple of brief attempts to catch the fish with a net, we began dragging leaf litter and branches from the pond and raked one of the fish out at the same time. After being checked over the fish was unharmed in his ordeal and was quickly placed in a tank to be taken to a safe pond where it cannot affect any amphibian populations. Although there are still a few fish in the pond, we are hoping to get back there soon and remove the fish before the newts return to the pond in spring to breed.”
Parks Manager Lisa Stannard said: “It’s a shame and unsuitable that people abandon their unwanted pets in parks and open spaces – it might be a cliché but it is true that a pet is not just for Christmas. A lot of animals will not survive in the wild; others can pose a threat to native species.”
