Publication date: 6 September 2025

ARC is pleased to launch the “National strategy for conservation translocation of the adder Vipera berus in Great Britain”. With growing concern about the plight of the adder, ARC has written this strategy after consulting with a range of adder site managers, surveyors, agency colleagues and researchers. There was a clear need to inform decision-making on when translocation is an appropriate option.

Our assessment is that translocation has a place in adder recovery, but it is currently a fairly minor one. Efforts should generally be directed toward conserving existing populations using measures such as habitat improvement and strengthening connectivity between sites. Translocation could play a particular role where adders have gone extinct across a wide area but where the reasons for extinction have been reversed. The strategy also recommends a range of further work, including scientific research, to help target translocation efforts in the future.

The strategy is launched on the first day of the Vanishing Viper conference, held in Chester and organised by ARG UK in partnership with ARC and the University of Chester. ARC looks forward to discussing the strategy with conference delegates.

You can download the strategy below:

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