ONE of the rarest orphans in the UK has been put down after serious health problems were discovered.
The pine marten kit, which was found in a bin along with two dead siblings earlier this year, was being cared for at The Vale Wildlife Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre.
Not even able to open its eyes when it first arrived at the wildlife hospital, the pine marten spent months growing, however concerns were raised when it did not use its hind legs, instead opting to move around on its knee.
It is unclear what caused the issue, but staff have since made the decision to put the pup down as it would not have been able to develop into a healthy pine marten capable of surviving in the wild.
The pine marten kit arrived at The Vale Wildlife Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre earlier this year (Image: The Vale Wildlife Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre)
A spokesperson for The Vale Wildlife Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre said: “A deeply heartbreaking update on our tiny pine marten kit.
“Many of you have followed our little pine marten’s journey from a 105g orphan found alongside his two deceased siblings, through his first feeds, weight gain, and even the exciting moment he began opening his eyes.
“But, sadly, despite everyone’s hopes, his journey back to the wild wasn’t meant to be.
“Since his arrival, concern had grown about his use of his hind legs, particularly his left. Initially, he was holding and positioning them correctly, and we hoped that as he grew stronger and began using them more, any weakness or developmental delay might have improved. We also took x-rays to confirm there were no fractures.
“Unfortunately, during a veterinary recheck, it became clear that instead of bearing weight through his left foot, he had begun using his knee to move around – something we hadn’t observed previously. This indicated a far more serious problem than we had initially hoped.
“We do not know whether these issues were congenital or the result of something that happened before he came into our care. What we do know is that his condition was worsening, and he would never have been able to develop into a healthy, independent pine marten capable of surviving in the wild.
The orphaned pine marten was found in a bin with his two deceased siblings (Image: The Vale Wildlife Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre)
“This is the reality of working with wildlife.
“Not every story has the ending we hope for. Sometimes our role is not just to save lives, but to prevent suffering when there is no realistic path to recovery. Those decisions never get easier, no matter how many years we have been doing this.
“We gave this little one every chance we could. He was warm, safe, well-fed, and cared for by a team who quickly fell in love with him. Seeing him grow, gain weight, and begin to show his pine marten personality made us all believe there might be a future ahead of him.
“We’d like to express our thanks to all of you who supported his journey with us. Needless to say, we are all absolutely heartbroken by his loss.
“Run free, little one.”
Where can you see a pine marten in the UK?
Despite being the second most common carnivore in the UK centuries ago, pine martens are now considered one of the rarest mammals in the country.
With a huge decline in the 1800s, pine marten populations are largely non-existent in England, with the species mainly restricted to northern and central Scotland, according to the Woodland Trust. Low numbers can still be found in northern England and Wales.
