Meet the Hero Saving Britain's Enchanting Glow Worms

Ecologist Pete Cooper is fascinated by glow worms, considering them to be magical creatures. However, glow worms in the UK are facing a decline due to various factors such as habitat loss and light pollution. The males, in particular, are distracted by artificial lighting, causing them to miss opportunities to mate. Pete is a passionate conservationist who has gone to great lengths to breed and release glow worms in southern England. He carefully carries a container holding baby glow worms, which he hatched this summer and are about the size of a grain of rice. Pete explains that glow worms are actually beetles, not worms, and the females glow to attract mates during the summer. Pete's goal is to reintroduce glow worms to various sites and establish a refuge for them. While some individuals oppose the reintroduction of animals, Pete emphasizes the importance of following international guidelines and being pragmatic in conservation efforts. His work has garnered interest from other organizations, who are now developing their own glow worm breeding programs. The hope is that these efforts can help improve glow worm populations and serve as a symbol of hope in the face of biodiversity loss.