Rare animals threatened as wildfire ravages New Forest heathland

More than 120 firefighters tackling blaze which started on Sunday after a van caught fire near habitat ‘more rare than rainforest’ More than 120 firefighters are tackling a “devastating” blaze on internationally protected heathland in the New Forest. The area hit by the blaze, which started after a van caught fire on the A31 near Ringwood on Sunday, is protected heathland that is home to a number of rare species, according to the New Forest national park authority. “It’s rare heathland which globally is more rare than rainforest with lots of rare species,” a spokesperson said. “We have the highest concentration of lowland heathland in western Europe and it’s internationally protected. “It is home to all six UK native reptiles, Dartford warblers, nightjars, insects – it’s devastating.” The spokesperson added that it was too early to tell how much damage had been caused because the incident was still ongoing.

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