Illegal reintroductions of rare butterflies to UK ‘a risk to other species’

Conservation scientists warn releases of rare or extinct species may spread diseases and harm attempts to save other butterflies

“Ridiculous” illegal reintroductions of rare or extinct butterflies to new sites in Britain risk introducing disease, damage attempts to save species and jeopardise well-planned releases, conservationists have warned.

Conservation scientists spoke out after black-veined whites, which fell extinct in Britain 100 years ago, reappeared on a nature reserve near Croydon.