Dozens of turtle doves have been released in the South Downs National Park as part of urgent efforts to prevent the species from becoming extinct in the UK. This spring, 30 birds were introduced in the Selborne area of Hampshire, with an additional 100 planned for release next year.
The turtle dove, famously referenced in the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas," is now the United Kingdom's fastest declining bird species. According to the RSPB, its numbers in the UK have plummeted by 98% between the late 1960s and 2023.
Park ranger Paul Bushell noted that while the bird is familiar from festive carols, it has become far too rare. He described the turtle dove as one of the fastest-declining bird species in Europe. The current conservation efforts aim to boost the population and prevent the further loss of this species.