A female pine marten with four youngsters has been filmed on Exmoor, marking the latest success in a scheme to bring the rare animals back to the South West. Pine martens were once common in Exmoor, but were lost due to hunting and the decline of their favoured woodland habitat. The footage is the first evidence pine martens are breeding successfully in Exmoor (Two Moors Pine Marten Project/PA)Ali North, Two Moors Pine Marten Project field officer for Exmoor, said: “These clips were recorded on cameras being monitored by one of our brilliant project volunteers. Ali Hawkins, senior ecologist at Exmoor National Park Authority, said: “Seeing pine martens breeding on Exmoor is a hugely encouraging milestone for nature recovery in the National Park. Since being released, the pine martens have been elusive – as they are shy of people, very mobile and difficult to see.