An EU-wide campaign to stop laboratory experiments on animals has failed to persuade the European Commission to impose a ban.

The Commission said the EU was aiming to phase out animal testing, but it was still too early to ban tests on live animals conducted for medical research.
The campaign group Stop Vivisection gathered 1.1 million signatures in a bid to change the law.
The Commission says a 2010 directive allowing animal tests will remain law.
It sets out detailed animal welfare rules for scientists conducting lab tests on animals.
Drug treatments and chemical toxicity are two of the most important research areas for such tests, and in most cases mice or rats are used. Cosmetics cannot be tested on animals under EU law.
There is often controversy about how closely animal tests can mimic human biology and scientists are refining alternatives, such as computer models.
Labs in the 28-nation EU used 11.5 million animals in experiments in 2011, according to the most recent official data available. France, Germany and the UK accounted for 55% of the total number.
In its response to the Stop Vivisection petition, submitted under an EU mechanism called "European Citizens' Initiative (ECI)", the Commission said that "for the time being, animal experimentation remains important for protecting human and animal health, and for maintaining an intact environment.
"While working towards the ultimate goal of full replacement of animals, Directive 2010/63/EU is an indispensable tool at the EU level to protect those animals still required. The Directive implements the Three Rs - to replace, reduce and refine animal use in Europe."
Under EU rules the Commission has to consider legislative changes if more than a million people in at least seven EU countries sign a petition on a particular issue.
The Commission said it "welcomes the mobilisation of citizens in support of animal welfare" and will organise an EU conference on animal testing "by 2016" to review the progress made towards reducing such tests.
Its response to the petition was welcomed by several research scientists, quoted by the Science Media Centre.
Nancy Lee at the Wellcome Trust said the Commission had recognised "the crucial role that the carefully regulated use of animals in research has in improving human and animal health and advancing modern medicine".
Prof Jan Schnupp, a neuroscientist at Oxford University, said strong animal welfare safeguards were in place in the EU and animal tests were carried out "only if these experiments have passed tight scrutiny by independent ethics boards".
More than half of those who signed the petition were in Italy, where it was launched.
Nick Palmer, head of policy at the UK anti-vivisection group Cruelty Free International, said the UK "is one of the largest users of animals in research in Europe and the UK is particularly secretive".
Speaking to the BBC, he said UK researchers do not have to publish full details of such experiments, whereas in much of Europe they do. He also complained that the number of such tests had risen in the UK.
"We are pleased in principle that the Commission is saying explicitly they think animal experiments should be phased out, but we're unhappy with the absence of any clear strategy to do so," he said.


A swimmer has become the first man to swim from Guernsey to Jersey.

Neil Faudemer completed the 32km (20-mile) route in 14 hours 57 minutes. It was his fifth attempt.
The 55-year-old from Jersey, who was stung in the mouth by a jellyfish during the attempt, believes he swam around 45km (28 miles) in total.
"I really wanted to do this because of the history - it's haunted me," he said. Ruth Oldham was the first to complete the swim, in 1962.
Mr Faudemer, who became the first man to swim between Sark and Jersey in 2011, left Guernsey at 11:45 BST on Friday and arrived in Jersey just before 03:00 BST on Saturday.
"My wife and her friend were sat in their cars with their headlights on guiding me in," he said.
"It's taken a while to sink in, especially having got so close to finishing the swim before."
Mr Faudemer was joined on the swim by a support team that included Jersey's Minister for Sport, Steve Pallett and fellow sea-swimmer Wendy Trehiou.


The shortlist has been revealed for the Walter Scott Prize for historical fiction to be awarded at the Borders Book Festival in Melrose in June.

Seven contenders remain from the original longlist of 15 for the event's sixth edition.
The shortlist for the £30,000 award was announced at 50 Albermarle Street in London, the home of Scott's original publisher John Murray.
The winner will be announced in the Borders this summer.
The final shortlist is:
Announcing the shortlist, the chair of judges Alistair Moffat said: "We had a record number of entries, our most extensive longlist and, as a result, our longest shortlist since the first Walter Scott Prize in 2010.
"This list of seven fantastic novels represents the diversity and breadth of style that the genre of historical fiction now encompasses - from the poetic to the experimental, and from satire to adventure, writing set in the past can challenge, excite and innovate in a hundred different ways.
"Our 2015 shortlist could easily have been longer, but we hope we have represented the vibrancy of historical writing published in this last year, as well as a broad range of global settings from colonial India to 14th Century China, Europe during the two world wars, and 17th Century England."
The winner of the prize receives £25,000, and each of the shortlisted authors receive £1000, making the 2015 total prize worth £31,000.


Scotland's councils have taken legal advice over Scottish government plans to withhold money from any local authorities that cut teacher numbers.

Local authority body Cosla has also produced research questioning whether there is a direct link between the number of teachers and attainment.
Cosla wants the government to reopen talks over the issue.
But teaching union the EIS described Cosla's research paper as "bizarre and misleading".
The Scottish government, which says ministers have acted legally at every stage, wants to stop the number of teachers in schools across the country falling any further.
Finance Secretary John Swinney has allocated more than £10.85bn for councils in his budget for 2015-16.
But he has angered some local authorities by insisting that they must agree to maintain teacher numbers if they want to receive their full cash settlement from the Scottish government.
One concern is that councils would not be able to cut teacher numbers - even if pupil numbers were falling.
Cosla chief executive Rory Mair said lawyers had been consulted over the issue, but stressed that any potential legal action was "down the road from our point of view".
He said: "We've now taken legal advice which suggests the government have a case to answer about the legality of their behaviour over the teacher number issue and the imposition of this deal.
"I don't think our first port of call would be to go to legal action, our first port of call is to go to government and say these are the questions you've got to answer, we expect you to come back round the table and answer them."
The research paper by Cosla puts forwards the argument that teacher numbers alone are not the reason attainment in Scotland's schools has gone up.
It highlighted factors like the quality of teachers and changes to the curriculum.
The analysis paper said: "We can find no correlation between pupil/teacher ratios and S4 and S5 attainment, either at the individual local authority level or at Scottish level.
"This is in line with the vast majority of the international literature which has found no systematic relationship between pupil/teacher ratio and pupil attainment.
"Pupils' background and socio-economic circumstances have a stronger relationship with outcomes, as does teacher and teaching quality."
But the EIS described the research as "highly selective" and pointed out the fact that several councils have already said they would maintain teacher numbers.
The teaching union's general secretary Larry Flanagan said: "The EIS is very clear that maintaining teacher numbers across Scotland is essential to ensure equality of opportunity for young people in our schools.
"The fact that Cosla is continuing to resist a national agreement, including the offer of significant new money, is extremely disappointing."
He added: "Cosla has published a selective literature review which, by sleight of hand, attempts to refute as unproven the notion that the number of teachers working in our classes has a direct correlation to improving attainment.
"Why is it then that almost every successful project which we have implemented to address the impact of poverty, for example nurture classes or literacy programmes, have at their core additional teaching staff?"
A Scottish government spokesman reiterated that it was firmly committed to maintaining both teacher numbers and the pupil-teacher ratio.
He added: "Having not only the highest quality but also the right number of teachers in our schools to support our pupils is a policy we would hope local authorities would support.
"Despite the Scottish government providing a further £10m of funding, bringing the total to £51m, specifically to support teacher numbers, Cosla failed to reach agreement on the terms of a national agreement leaving us no alternative but to seek agreements with individual local authorities.
"Several councils have expressed a desire to meet with ministers to discuss the offer, which we very much welcome."
He said a further meeting between the Scottish government and Cosla is planned for next week, but ministers have made clear that the conditions of the offer will not change.
"Ministers have acted legally at every stage, and it is unclear which regulations Cosla believe sets out that Scottish ministers can, or cannot, act in this way", the spokesman added.


The shortlist for this year's Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction have been announced.

Margo Jefferson and Svetlana Alexievich are among the nominees for the Â£30,000 award, previously known as the Samuel Johnson Prize.
Hisham Matar and Philippe Sands have also been shortlisted for the award, which aims to recognise high quality non-fiction works published in English.
Former BBC Economics Editor Stephanie Flanders is chair of the judges.
She said: "Of the many superb books on the long list, these are the four books that each of us [judges] would be happy so see win.
"If they have anything in common it is perhaps the emphasis on the first person - and first-hand reporting. There are voices and stories in these books that we haven't heard before and which are going to stay with me for a very long time."
Belarusian investigative journalist Alexievich's Second-hand Time was originally written in Russian but its translation by Bela Shayevich made it eligible for the longlist.
The book focuses on what life in the USSR was like just prior to its collapse.
Jefferson, a former New York Times theatre critic, is nominated for Negroland: A Memoir.
The biography chronicles her experience of growing up in Chicago's black elite in the 1960s and 70s, where she describes being "sheltered by a certain amount of privilege and plenty".
Franco-British lawyer Sands is nominated for East West Street: On the Origins of Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity, which studies the origins of international law.
The final nominee, Libyan writer Matar has previously been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize.
The Return: Fathers, Sons and the Land In Between, sees him return to his home country following the fall of Colonel Gaddafi, who was captured and killed in 2011.
Follow us on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, on Instagram, or if you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.


Samsung appears to have filed copyright claims against YouTube videos mocking its recalled Galaxy Note 7 handset.

Many gamers have showcased a modification to video game Grand Theft Auto V, in which sticky bombs were switched with exploding Samsung phones.
But some have reported that their videos have been blocked on YouTube following a copyright complaint.
Samsung has not yet responded to repeated BBC requests for comment.
Critics have warned that trying to remove gamers' videos will only draw more attention to them.
The Galaxy Note 7 was recalled and discontinued in October after reports that some handsets were catching fire.
One US gamer - known as DoctorGTA - said restrictions had been put on his YouTube account as a result of Samsung's complaint.
"It's going to take three months to get the strike removed from my channel... I got my live stream taken away," he said in a video.
"If I submit a counter-notification to say 'sue me', I wonder what they will do. Will they sue me, the kid that has cancer and just makes money off YouTube playing a video game?"
"It really sucks, because I really worked hard on this channel."
Some viewers warned that Samsung was at risk of invoking the Streisand Effect - a term used to denotes increased publicity as a result of attempts to remove embarrassing online content.
It was first used in 2005 by Mike Masnick, founder of the website Techdirt, following a failed attempt by singer Barbra Streisand to sue a photographer who posted a picture of her seaside home.
The original download page for the Grand Theft Auto V modification, created by player HitmanNiko, has not been taken offline.


New Ebola cases in the three West African countries worst affected by the deadly outbreak of the virus are declining, weekly UN figures show.

Sierra Leone and Guinea both recorded the lowest weekly total of confirmed Ebola cases since August.
Liberia, which reported no new cases on two days last week, had its lowest weekly total since June.
The death toll from the world's worst Ebola outbreak has reached 8,429 with 21,296 cases so far.
According to the latest World Health Organization (WHO) report, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone now all have sufficient capacity to bury all the people known to have died from Ebola.
But it said under-reporting of deaths meant that not all burials were being done safely.
While cases were decreasing in Sierra Leone, it remained the worst-affected country, with western areas still reporting the most new transmissions, the WHO said.
Last week, there were 59 new reported cases in the capital, Freetown.
The spirit of Freetown seems to be back with residents in the capital celebrating, albeit quietly, the low Ebola infection figures. For over a week the reported daily infections have been in single figures and on Tuesday there were only two deaths.
Like Premier League football fans, people converge at internet cafes and street corners to follow the daily updates. The usually grim faces are now grinning. The ubiquitous blaring of ambulance sirens has also reduced considerably. In fact, the national daily infection rate is around 20 - in November it was 60.
"Ebola is in trouble," says Ahmed Turay, a teenager who has not been to classes since July. "I look forward to returning to school," he says, smiling broadly.
The eastern district of Kailahun, which first recorded Ebola eight months ago, has had no cases for 35 days and the other former hotspot of Kenema has had only four cases since November. But the authorities are warning all to exercise caution, insisting Ebola is still here.
Meanwhile, in Guinea it has been announced that schools and universities are to reopen next Monday after a five-month closure because of Ebola.
The BBC's Alhassan Sillah in Guinea says the authorities there are also stepping up Ebola information campaigns as in some areas people are still suspicious of official attempts to fight the disease.
Over the weekend, two policemen were killed by villagers who feared they had brought Ebola to the western district of Forecariah.
Earlier this month, the outgoing head of the UN team fighting Ebola, Anthony Banbury, said he believed cases of the virus would be brought down to zero by the end of 2015.
Ebola basics: What you need to know


BBC Sport football expert Mark Lawrenson is predicting the outcome of every game at the 2016 European Championship.

He starts with the opening games in each group, which include England v Russia, Wales v Slovakia and Northern Ireland v Poland.
Lawro also picks his two teams to automatically go through from each group into the knockout stage, and his six teams which will finish bottom and definitely go home (four of the six third-placed teams also go through to the last 16).
You can make your own predictions and take on your friends and other fans using the BBC's Euros Predictor.
Lawro was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.
France are my pick to win Euro 2016. Home advantage will be massive for them and they are so strong in midfield and attack.
I would be even more confident if they were a little bit better defensively but if you look around the competition, there are not too many teams capable of winning it who are very good at the back.
There are some good defensive teams, including Romania, who conceded the fewest goals in qualifying - two goals in 10 games - but they are not going to win it.
I am at Stade de France for this game and, usually, the opening game of any tournament is not great.
It will be tough for France to break Romania down but I think they will do it in the end.
Albania are another team who are very defensive minded and Switzerland must find a way of breaking down what is likely to be a 5-4-1 formation.
But goals were not a problem for the Swiss when they came through qualifying in the same group as England, and I don't think Albania will keep them out either.
Lawro's pre-tournament picks - Going through: France and Switzerland Third place: Romania Going home: Albania
I saw Slovakia draw with the Republic of Ireland in Dublin in March and they were hopeless.
But my fellow BBC pundit John Hartson watched them beat Germany in Augsburg a few days ago and he said they were very good.
I am a little bit worried about Wales because they have not won for four games since they beat Andorra at the end of their qualifying campaign in October.
So, I am going to go for a draw, mainly because I am not sure what to expect from Slovakia.
I have heard a lot about England's prospects in their opening game but not many people have mentioned the searing heat that this game could be played in - it could hit 30C in Marseille.
The temperatures will not be good for Russia either and I think, as far as the game is concerned, they will just sit in.
Russia have got aging centre-backs in Sergei Ignashevich and Vasili Berezutski - who have a combined age of 70 - and they will stay deep, especially if Jamie Vardy starts for England.
It might turn into a frustrating evening for Roy Hodgson's side, but I do not see them being beaten.
Lawro's pre-tournament picks - Going through: England and Russia Third place: Wales Going home: Slovakia
I have seen Poland play a few times because they were in the Republic of Ireland's group, and they are a real threat.
Everyone always goes on about Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski but there is a lot more to them than his finishing ability, and the speed at which they attack makes them very dangerous.
Northern Ireland make things difficult for every team they play and are on a 12-game unbeaten run, but I see that ending here.
This is another game between one team - Germany - with defensive issues and another - Ukraine - who are strong at the back.
Ukraine were extremely difficult to break down in qualifying but their shortage of goals meant they had to come through the play-offs.
Germany have had some mixed results in their warm-up matches but I am expecting a big improvement from the world champions once this tournament gets started.
Lawro's pre-tournament picks - Going through: Germany and Poland Third place: Ukraine Going home: Northern Ireland
I was impressed with the way Turkey played in their friendly defeat by England at the end of May. They have some promising young players who seem to be improving quickly.
But I am backing Croatia to begin with a win. If and when they get out of their group, nobody will want to play them in the last 16 because they look like a very good side.
Czech Republic play some nice football and will be easy on the eye but I do not see them causing Spain too many problems.
The defending champions have got a decent chance of a third straight triumph but their team is not as strong as the one that won Euro 2012.
Lawro's pre-tournament picks - Going through: Croatia and Spain Third place: Turkey Going home: Czech Republic
All eyes will be on Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic but I think he will struggle to breathe against the Republic of Ireland.
Sweden will see a lot of the ball but the Republic are absolutely brilliant at stopping the opposition from playing and they will be all over Ibrahimovic.
The Republic will look to threaten with set-pieces, although I don't see them scoring either.
Italy are missing a number 10, looked laboured in qualifying and probably do not know their best formation but, like Germany, they are a tournament team and will get out of their group.
I am expecting bigger things from Belgium than we saw at the last World Cup, when they reached the last eight.
Belgium have some fantastic individual players but I am still not totally convinced yet that they will come together as effectively as a team.
Lawro's pre-tournament picks - Going through: Belgium and Italy Third place: Sweden Going home: Republic of Ireland
Austria were unbeaten in qualifying and did not lose a game. Even so, I am not sure they have got enough goals in their team to reach the latter stages in France.
I think they will get out of their group easily enough, though, starting with a win over a Hungary side that sneaked here through the play-offs and look short of quality.
I was impressed by Portugal in their friendly against England, especially considering they were without Cristiano Ronaldo.
With him back, they will be a real threat and, looking at the opposition, Ronaldo could have four goals by the end of the group stage.
Iceland are another team who have done well to qualify but I don't see them stopping him.
Lawro's pre-tournament picks - Going through: Portugal and Austria Third place: Hungary Going home: Iceland


Police need more powers to stop dog attacks on sheep, the head of rural crime in north Wales has said.

Sgt Rob Taylor has called for the law to be updated to also cover animals, such as alpacas and lamas, and increase sentencing powers.
He said more than 2,000 sheep have been killed in nearly 500 dog attacks since 2013.
The North Wales team and four other UK forces will present their findings to Parliament at the end of the year.
The NFU and FUW farming unions have said they too support the campaign for a new Protection of Livestock Act.
Sgt Taylor said the current powers of sentencing "do not reflect the true accuracy of the loss to the farmer and the offence involved", and called for powers in relation to the seizure of dogs and banning orders on owners.
Iestyn Pritchard, of NFU Cymru, said figures showed there were about 100 cases in 2013 but they were now "closer to about 1,000" per year, meaning the problem was getting worse.
"There is obviously the financial effect of losing stock, we always think in terms of the lambing period, but there's also the stress involved with having to deal with dead sheep or severely injured sheep.
"When you're trying to run your own business, you're on your own land and you're finding outside influences are having a direct impact on your business and you can't control it," he said.
He added rather than just taking one dog for a walk it was a growing trend to take out two or three, making it more difficult for the farmer and dog walker to control a "pack of dogs".


Johnny McKee and Shane O'Donoghue both scored twice as Ireland hammered Poland 5-1 in the World League 2 quarter-final at Stormont on Thursday.

McKee netted the opener and Eugene Magee slotted home before O'Donoghue's drag-flick made it 3-0 at half-time.
O'Donoghue added the fourth and, after Patryk Bulka pulled one back, McKee netted to seal victory.
Ireland face Wales in Saturday's semi-final with the winners guaranteed a spot in the final and World League 3.
France and Scotland will contest the other semi-final at the east Belfast venue.
"In a must-win game, there will always be tension. These are difficult games - it's a quarter-final and must-win," said Ireland coach Craig Fulton.
Media playback is not supported on this device
"Whether you play beautifully or it's pretty, it doesn't matter. The result is everything.
"We did well in the first quarter but couldn't put a final pass on it. They are a difficult team to play against and Mateusz Poltaszewski is a good player and controlled things for a while.
"But once we got one, two and three that put them under a lot of pressure. We pressed well. The stepping forward from us was really good. All respect to Poland, we maybe left three or four more goals out there.
"Where we are getting the ball are really good areas. It is building."
Ireland: D Harte, J Bell, M Bell, R Gormley, M Nelson, E Magee, N Glassey, S O'Donoghue, J McKee, P Gleghorne, C Harte.
Subs: B Walker, C Cargo, S Murray, J Duncan, L Cole, J Wright, J Carr.
Poland: R Banaszak, M Raciniewski, M Gumny, D Kotulski, S Sellner, M Hulboj, J Janicki, R Wisniewski, A Krokosz, P Bratkowski, M Poltaszewski.
Subs: P Bulka, B Zywiczka, R Gruszczynski, P Pawlak, J Kurowski, K Sudol, M Popiolkowskia.
Umpires: V Ilgrande, I Diamond


The UK-born astronaut Piers Sellers has accepted a commemorative pin to mark his achievements in orbit.

The silver lapel badge, which takes the shape of a rocket, was awarded during a parliamentary event close to the House of Commons in Central London.
Dr Sellers is one of only six individuals born in Britain to make it into space.
He has flown three times with Nasa as a US citizen, most recently on shuttle Atlantis in May.
But he told BBC News he was unlikely to take part in a fourth mission.
"I've had three flights and it's been fantastic, but it really is time to give the young guys a chance," he said.
"If I take another flight, it means somebody else doesn't get one. There are some excellent young people in the US astronaut programme and I want to see them get every opportunity."
The British Interplanetary Society (BIS) has commissioned 10 silver pins, and Dr Sellers is the third person to receive one after Helen Sharman and Richard Garriott.
The pins are awarded to both recognise the achievements of some extraordinary people, but also to promote human spaceflight.
The UK government does not fund any astronaut activities, and so the only Britons to get into space so far have done so by becoming US citizens and joining the American space agency, or by getting on a private programme of some kind.
Dr Sellers, Michael Foale and Nicholas Patrick fall into the former category; Ms Sharman and Mr Garriott fall into the latter.  US shuttle pilot Greg Johnson was also born in Britain when his father was stationed in the country in 1962.
Helen Sharman and Richard Garriott were on hand to see Dr Sellers get his award. The spaceman said it was a great honour.
"It turns out I'm a dual citizen, which I didn't know until a few years ago.  I'm very, very proud to have links to both countries. I am a US citizen who is from the UK."
Dr Sellers first joined Nasa in the 1980s, working at the Nasa Goddard Space Center in Maryland.  It was there that he succeeded in getting on to the Nasa astronaut programme.
With a degree in ecology and a PhD in climate simulation, the Dr Sellers said he planned now to return to Goddard once again to resume his science pursuits.
"I'm going to change over to the Nasa climate side of the house, starting early next year.  I'll be at the Nasa Goddard Space Flight Center.
"I'm going to help head up the climate programme there.  I'm really looking forward to that. It's where I came from. I know a lot of the people - a wonderful bunch of people - and there's lots to do."
Michael Foale and Nicholas Patrick are expected to get their pins in 2011.
Tim Peake has just completed his basic training with the European Space Agency astronaut corps and is expected to go into orbit in the coming years. Assuming he does, Major Peake would also qualify for the honour.
"We are all delighted to be giving astronaut Piers Sellers his special British Interplanetary Society silver pin award," Nick Spall, fellow of the BIS and coordinator of the UK Human Spaceflight Campaign, told BBC News.
"He is one of only five UK-born people to have gone into orbital space so far - that's out of around 500 in total across the world.
"Piers, Helen Sharman, Richard Garriott, Mike Foale and Nick Patrick are excellent inspirational role-models for young people in the UK - through hard work, dedication, personal commitment and drive they have all achieved their spaceflight dreams in their various ways.
"Of course, if the UK government changed its current approach and gave modest support to human spaceflight, the inspirational and exploration benefits that the rest of the developed world enjoys through their national astronauts could be more widely appreciated."
Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk


The  wreckage found on the seabed off the Bahamas on Saturday is that of a cargo ship that went missing last month, the US National Transportation Safety Board has confirmed.

The vessel, El Faro, went missing during Hurricane Joaquin, while sailing from Florida to Puerto Rico.
A US Navy had been searching the area for more than a week, using a deep ocean remotely-operated vehicle.
The ship had 33 crew members on board. Only one body has been recovered.
The US-flagged 241m (790ft) El Faro sent out a distress signal on 1 October, saying it had lost power and was taking on water.
Debris was spotted in the ocean in the days after the vessel disappeared.
The wreckage was located on Saturday by a US Navy ship using sonar equipment.
It was found intact and upright, at a depth of 15,000ft, by the remotely operated vehicle, CURV 21.
The 33 crew are believed to be dead. Most of them were US citizens.
Relatives have filed four lawsuits against the ship's owner, Tote Inc, saying it was not seaworthy and chartered a course too close to the hurricane, the Reuters news agency reported.
The company said El Faro was "seaworthy and properly manned".


Police officers in rural areas fear they would be "sitting ducks" in the event of a terrorist gun attack in the UK, a Police Federation chairman says.

A national shortage of armed officers could leave police in isolated areas "unarmed and vulnerable", John Apter, head of the Hampshire branch warned.
Figures revealed the number of firearms officers in England and Wales last year fell to its lowest level since 1987.
Home Secretary Theresa May spoke at the Police Federation conference earlier.
The federation, which represents constables, sergeants and inspectors in England and Wales, is holding its annual conference in Bournemouth.
They paused during speeches on Tuesday morning to hold a minute's silence to remember the 96 victims of the Hillsborough tragedy.
Do police have firepower to tackle gun menace?
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's File on 4, Mr Apter said armed officers could be more than 70 miles away if an attack was launched in a rural location.
Some rural and coastal areas include potential terrorist targets - including energy and power plants.
Nuclear power plants in Britain are guarded by the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC), whose officers are routinely armed, while firearms officers of the Ministry of Defence Police are responsible for facilities such as the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston in Berkshire.
"Being realistic, if a firearms unit was coming from the middle of the county you are still talking about 30 miles away - you are not talking about a few minutes," he said.
"There would be an understandable delay.
"If a firearms unit is the other side of the county they could be 70 miles away so you are talking a significant distance.
"So the only officers that you have available are unarmed and vulnerable officers and they are the officers that are saying to me that in a terrorist situation they would be sitting ducks."
Last month, Prime Minister David Cameron announced money would be ring-fenced to boost the number of firearms officers in the UK, following terror attacks in Brussels and Paris.
However, federation chairman Steve White said the government's plan to train another 1,500 firearms officers to deal with the terror threat looked doubtful.
Officers are not volunteering to carry guns because they fear being "hung out to dry" and treated like a suspect if they discharge their weapon, he said.
The result was "worrying" inconsistencies in the service nationally, leaving some forces without firearms officers and reliant on neighbouring forces for coverage, Mr White added.
A national shortage of armed police was leaving the UK vulnerable to terror attacks, he warned.
The head of the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), which investigates fatal shootings by officers, said while firearms officers should not have impunity, they should also not be concerned by the watchdog's scrutiny.
In a statement, IPCC chair Dame Anne Owers warned "those within the police service" to be careful "about stoking such fears".
The IPCC had investigated 29 fatal shootings by police in the past 12 years, the statement added, and had only used its powers of arrest once.
Che Donald, from the Police Federation, warned the recruitment drive could create a "gap" in the front line, as armed officers transferred from neighbourhood policing.
"There isn't a magic pot we can just dip into and pull out a fully trained firearms officer," he said.
CNC Deputy Chief Constable Simon Chesterman, the national lead on armed policing, said those concerns surrounding recruitment were starting to be tackled.
He told the BBC: "At the fairly early stages of this recruitment process we are seeing officers coming forward to put themselves in harm's way,
"At the moment this is not a crisis, but quite clearly, with some of the things going on in the background that are putting pressure on them, it could become one.
"At the moment, sufficient officers are stepping forward but we're watching and monitoring it very carefully."
Police minister Mike Penning said the government had committed an additional Â£143m over the next five years to provide "a national uplift in armed policing capability".
Downing Street said police forces were recruiting more than 1,000 armed officers, setting up round-the-clock specialist teams outside London.
More than 40 police armed response vehicles will also be deployed.
"We will always ensure firearms officers are supported to take the difficult decisions necessary to protect the public," he said.
File on Four is broadcast on BBC Radio Four on Tuesday 17 May at 20:00 BST.


Shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn has said it is "perfectly reasonable" for police to shoot to kill terrorists that are a threat to life - after Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he was "not happy" with such a policy.

Mr Benn said it was a "long-established precedent" that lethal force could be used to prevent "further loss of life".
Mr Corbyn's stance was criticised by some MPs at a party meeting.
His spokesman said only a minority of MPs had expressed themselves volubly.
The spokesman added that the shadow cabinet was "united" over Labour's policy of refusing to back UK military action in Syria.
The row comes after Mr Corbyn told the BBC on Monday that a "war on the streets" must be avoided and also that UK air strikes in Syria could make the situation there "far worse".
He also declined to say if he would ever back military intervention against extremists.
He added: "I'm not happy with the shoot-to-kill policy in general. I think that is quite dangerous and I think can often be counter-productive. I think you have to have security that prevents people firing off weapons where you can."
The Labour leader was speaking after 129 people were killed in a series of terror attacks in Paris on Friday.
BBC political correspondent Eleanor Garnier said one Labour MP "savaged" Mr Corbyn during the meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party on Monday night, while others said he was "aggressively heckled".
Labour MP John Mann asked Mr Corbyn if he was saying "terrorists with Kalashnikovs should not be shot by security forces in such situations".
Labour Keith Vaz, chairman of the home affairs committee, said shoot-to-kill was "the right thing to do in those circumstances", adding that "we have given that power to those responsible to make that decision".
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Benn said Labour's policy "remains the same".
Officers faced "split second decisions" in such circumstances, he said, adding: "I can't speak for Jeremy in relation to the particular circumstances he may have been thinking about."
Mr Benn also criticised the Stop the War Coalition - until recently chaired by Mr Corbyn - for an article, since deleted, headlined "Paris reaps whirlwind of western support for extremist violence in Middle East".
He said the language used was "shocking" and "wholly wrong" adding that whether or not the Labour leader should attend a Stop the War meeting in December was a "decision for Jeremy".
And he said there had been "no realistic prospect" of apprehending the Islamic State militant known as "Jihadi John", who was apparently killed by a US drone strike.
Mr Corbyn has said it would have been "far better" if he had been "held to account in a court of law" and questioned the legality of the action.


A former German policeman has been convicted of murdering a businessman he met on a website for cannibalism fetishists.

Detlev Guenzel, 56, strangled and dismembered the 59-year-old at a small bed-and-breakfast run by Mr Guenzel in eastern Germany in 2013.
Guenzel was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in jail.
Prosecutors could not confirm that he had actually eaten the victim, but some body parts were never found.
Lawyers representing the family of the murdered man - 59-year-old Polish-born Wojciech Stempniewicz - sought a 15-year sentence for Guenzel, the father of three adult children described by neighbours as affable, warm hearted and courteous.
Guenzel went on trial in August for killing Stempniewicz at his home, a bed-and-breakfast inn in the town of Hartmannsdorf-Reichenau in the Erz mountains near the border with the Czech Republic.
He was accused of cutting the body into small pieces and burying them in his garden, making a macabre home video in the process.
The pair met in October 2013 on a website for slaughter and cannibalism fantasies which described itself as the "#1 site for exotic meat" with more than 3,000 registered members, correspondents say.
Guenzel, who had served in the police for 30 years, retracted a confession he initially made to detectives soon after Stempniewicz's killing in which he said that he had cut his throat.
The defence argued that Stempniewicz had a death wish and had already hanged himself in Guenzel's cellar "S&M studio" before he took a knife, then an electric saw, to the gagged-and-bound man.
Investigators have been unable to determine the cause of death definitively because of the poor condition of the corpse.
They have, however, been able to ascertain that the pair had extensive contact online and by telephone before finally arranging their date on 4 November 2013.
The video Guenzel made was played during the trial, at one point showing him covered in blood while mutilating the corpse. "I never thought I would sink so low," he can be heard murmuring.
The defendant is reported to have broken down when the footage was shown, telling presiding judge Birgit Wiegand that he had made a mistake but was not a murderer.
The case has echoes of the 2001 murder of Bernd Juergen Brandes by Armin Meiwes in Rotenburg in western Germany.
Meiwes is serving a life sentence after killing and eating parts of his victim, who agreed to his death.


A teenager who was stabbed to death in east London as has been named as 17-year-old Marcel Addai.

Marcel was found fatally injured by police called to reports of an assault at about 23:15 BST on Friday, in the St John's Estate, Hoxton.
He was pronounced dead at the scene. A witness said she saw the teenager being chased through the estate.
Marcel's family said they were devastated by his death.  No arrests have been made, the Met confirmed.
In a statement, his family said: "We cannot comprehend how anyone could carry out such a wicked attack.
"We want those people who know something about this attack to come forward and provide information to the police.
"These people must come forward to prevent another family going through the pain we are all now suffering."
A 40-year-old woman, who did not want to be named, said she saw the victim from the window of her flat and described seeing "a big chase".
A post-mortem examination will be held at Poplar Mortuary on Monday, the Met said.
Det Ch Insp Andy Partridge said: "My officers have been at the scene since the attack took place and have come across a community left shocked by what has taken place.
"Whilst we have had a good initial response I believe there are still a number of people who were at the scene who have not come forward, people who hold significant information."
Flowers have been placed near to the estate in tribute to the victim.


One of Israel's great living writers, Amos Oz, says people who say Israel should not exist are anti-Semitic.

Speaking in an interview with BBC Newsnight, he said strong criticism of Israel is legitimate, but to argue there should be no Israel "that's where anti-Zionism becomes anti-Semitism".
Oz's books have been published in more than 40 languages.
He is regarded as a liberal and is firmly in favour of a two-state solution for Israel.
In recent months, the Labour Party in the UK has been embroiled in a row over anti-Semitism, and whether the party has a problem on the issue.
Oz told Newsnight's Kirsty Wark: "I can tell you exactly where I draw the line. If people call Israel nasty, I to some degree agree. If people call Israel the devil incarnated, I think they are obsessed - they are mad. But this is still legitimate."
"But if they carry on saying that therefore there should be no Israel, that's where anti-Zionism becomes anti-Semitism, because none of them ever said after Hitler that Germany should cease to exist, or after Stalin that there should be no Russia."
"Saying that Israel should cease to exist, or should not have come into being, this is crossing the line."
Amos Oz has won numerous awards for his books and has also commented widely on political issues. His latest novel, Judas, is a love story set in Jerusalem in 1959-60.
In February 2015, hundreds of UK artists signed a letter announcing they would take part in a cultural boycott of Israel. They said they would not accept professional invitations to Israel, or take any funding from organisations linked to the government.
Other prominent artists - including writer JK Rowling and historian Simon Schama - later criticised the move as "divisive and discriminatory".
Oz told Newsnight he believes cultural boycotts of Israel are counter-productive.
"I think boycott is hurting the wrong people. The idea that all Israelis are villains is a childish idea. Israel is the most deeply divided, argumentative society. You'll never find two Israelis that agree with one another - it's hard to find even one who agrees with himself or herself."
"Boycott is the wrong way because it hardens the Israeli resistance, and it deepens the Israeli paranoia that the whole world is against us."
"Boycott was very effective in the case of South Africa. But you have to be very stupid to think the prescription - the medicine that worked very well against cholera -will also kill the plague.
"This is a kind of laziness - mental laziness. South Africa was bad. The Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories is bad, in a totally different way. You need a different prescription."
Amos Oz was speaking to BBC Newsnight's Kirsty Wark. Watch the full interview on Newsnight at 22:30 on BBC Two, or catch up afterwards on iPlayer


Newcastle hooker Rob Vickers' last-minute try secured a dramatic victory over Harlequins to lift the Falcons off the bottom of the Premiership.

The home side raced into an early 10-0 lead after Nili Latu's converted score and Craig Willis' penalty.
Three Harlequins tries in eight minutes either side of half-time, two from Charlie Walker and the other from Dave Ward, then put the visitors 19-10 up.
But three Andy Goode penalties levelled it before Vickers' last-gasp touchdown.
Having recorded only their second win in 10 Premiership outings, Newcastle have now moved above London Irish and up to 11th place, just a single point behind Worcester, while Quins remain in fourth.
Relive Sunday's Premiership action
It was the introduction of veteran fly-half Goode, who came out of retirement to join the Falcons in December, that altered the direction of a match that had looked to be heading the way of Harlequins, who themselves had overcome a 10-point deficit to lead.
Winger Walker's brace and Ward's try behind a rolling maul put Conor O'Shea's side in a commanding position with 20 minutes remaining, knowing victory would lift them up to third in the table after overcoming leaders Saracens in their last Premiership match.
But Goode, on as a second-half replacement, landed three kicks from the tee and set the platform for Vickers to cross with two minutes left.
Newcastle Falcons fly-half Andy Goode:
"I may not have the pace any more but what I have got is bags of experience. When the rain came down we were 19-10 down and it wasn't about panicking, it was about playing in the right areas and, besides, the more I kick the less I have to run.
"Our forwards were magnificent in that closing period. We spoke at half-time about playing in the right areas after we did well to contain them pretty well in the first half, but they came at us really well and finished off some tries, but we didn't make it too hard for them did we?
"We said just 'stick to our system and play in the right areas' and that's what we did. Our forwards were exceptional and they did what I asked them to do and you can't ask for more than that."
Harlequins director of rugby Conor O'Shea:
"Credit to the Falcons for showing the fighting spirit they did. It's a tough place to come and it's just incredibly frustrating to have come back into the game and then lose it.
"We didn't start as well as we wanted to. We have to look at what we control but if I give the answer I should give and it will be the right answer then I will be in trouble and the report I get back won't allow me to talk about it.
"Andy Goode is a class act and he can pull players around the pitch. He's a quality player and I'm sure London Irish will be disappointed to see his performance today."
Newcastle Falcons: Hammersley; Tait, Harris, Socino, Venditti; Willis, Young; Vickers, Lawson, Vea, Wilson, Robinson, Welch, Latu, Hogg
Replacements: McGuigan, Fry, Ryan, Botha, Mayhew, Takulua, Goode, Powell
Harlequins: R. Chisholm; Yarde, Lowe, Sloan, Walker; Evans (capt), Tebaldi; Lambert, Buchanan, Collier, Horwill, Matthews, Wallace, Ward, Luamanu.
Replacements: Gray, Evans, Sinckler, Merrick, J. Chisholm, Waters, Botica, Swiel.
Listen to BBC Radio 5 live sports extra commentary here.
For the latest rugby union news follow @bbcrugbyunion on Twitter.


Aberdeen's controversial Marischal Square development is to come under the scrutiny of MSPs at Holyrood.

SNP Aberdeen Central MSP Kevin Stewart has secured a members' debate on the Â£107m project.
It is creating offices and a hotel on the site of the former council headquarters.
The motion to be debated on Tuesday evening asks for the concerns of the Reject Marischal Square campaign group to be noted.
Opponents fear council tax payers in Aberdeen could foot a bill for millions of pounds in the event of the complex being under occupied. They also say it spoils the view of historic Marischal College across the road.
The protestors failed in their bid to get the development halted in March.
The council said Marischal Square would act as a catalyst for regeneration and was an important part of its city centre master plan.
Developers Muse said it would be a world class project.


Amazon will offer one-hour delivery of groceries sourced from Morrisons stores to selected postcodes in London and Hertfordshire.

The online retail giant said Amazon Prime Now customers in the selected areas could have their baskets delivered within 60 minutes for Â£6.99.
Alternatively, customers can pick a two-hour delivery slot for no charge.
Amazon's tie-up with Morrisons began in June, but the latest agreement expands the range available.
David Potts, chief executive of the supermarket, said the deal would help to boost profits without requiring significant capital outlay.
Shares in Morrisons rose 0.6% to 223.3p in morning trading in London, valuing the company at almost Â£5.2bn.
The stock has risen almost 50% this year.
As well as the "Morrisons at Amazon" service, Amazon also offers products from wine merchant Spirited Wines and pharmacy chain John Bell & Croyden.
"We look forward to adding more stores and reaching more customers in the future," said Prime Now EU director Mariangela Marseglia.
Analysts at Shore Capital described the latest stage of Morrisons' deal with Amazon as "innovative" and said it would boost the supermarket chain in areas where it had little foothold.
"With its low market share and especially shallow reach in London and the South East, through Amazon Prime customers, the Morrison brand can gain welcome extension," Shore Capital added.
Amazon is a relative latecomer to the UK online grocery market, which is dominated by the country's big supermarket chains and online-only retailer Ocado.
Shares in Ocado fell more than 6% on Wednesday and have shed more than a fifth over the past 12 months.
However, ETX Capital analyst Neil Wilson said the tie-up was a "game-changer" for the sector and gave Morrisons "a massive edge over Tesco and Sainsbury in the home delivery market".
In order to obtain one-hour deliveries from Amazon, customers in eligible areas have to sign up for membership of its Amazon Prime service, which costs Â£79 a year.


An open audition is to be held to find a girl to star in JK Rowling's Harry Potter spin-off film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

Film studio Warner Bros is looking for a girl between the ages of eight and 12 to play the character of Modesty.
"Modesty is a haunted young girl with an inner strength and stillness," the studio said. "She has an ability to see deep into people and understand them."
The casting call will take place at the Excel Centre in London on Saturday.
The chosen youngster will star opposite Eddie Redmayne in what is bound to be one of the biggest film releases of next year.
Rowling has written the script for the film, which is based on a Harry Potter spin-off book she published in 2001.
Redmayne will play "magizoologist" Newt Scamander, who writes a Hogwarts School textbook about the weird and wonderful fictional creatures he encounters.
Hopeful actresses have been invited to start queuing from 9am on Saturday.
They will follow in the footsteps of actors Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley and first heard about Harry Potter auditions on Newsround more than 15 years ago.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is expected to be released on 18 November 2016.


South Park is to make fewer jokes about Donald Trump, its co-creator has said.

Trey Parker told The Los Angeles Times the show had fallen into the "trap" of mocking the US president in its episodes every week.
"We're becoming: 'Tune in to see what we're going to say about Trump.' Matt [Stone, co-creator] and I hated it but we got stuck in it somehow," he said.
Parker added he and Stone want the show, which has been running for 20 years, to return to its roots.
He said the series should stick to the "bread and butter" of "kids being kids and being ridiculous and outrageous".
Recently, the show has seen teacher Mr Garrison campaign for president on the basis he would build a wall to keep out Canadians - a reference to the wall President Trump wants to build on the Mexican border.
Parker said: "We probably could put up billboards - 'Look what we're going to do to Trump next week!' - and get crazy ratings. But I just don't care."
"We fell into the same trap that Saturday Night Live fell into, where it was like, 'Dude, we're just becoming CNN now'."
CNN has been critical of Mr Trump since he was elected in November 2016.
Parker also said the US president is using the tools of a comedian to drive his support.
"The things that we do - being outrageous and taking things to the extreme to get a reaction out of people - he's using those tools. At his rallies he gets people laughing and whooping," Parker said.
"I don't think he's good at it. But it obviously sells - it made him president."
Donald Trump Jr responded to the interview on Instagram, writing: "Hahahahaha... South Park will lay off the Trump jokes to avoid becoming CNN... Amazing. This made my day."
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The Italian coastguard has rescued more than 2,000 migrants in a major operation off the Libyan coast, officials say.

During the rescue, search teams were threatened by Kalashnikov-wielding men who approached in a speedboat from Libya, Italian officials said.
Last week, at least 300 migrants perished in the Mediterranean Sea.
They were travelling in dinghies that ran into trouble during stormy weather after leaving the coast of Libya.
On Friday another 600 migrants were rescued about 50 miles (80km) off the coast of the North African country.
The latest rescue effort on Sunday involved a plane, four coastguard ships, two tugboats and a navy vessel, according to the AFP news agency.
Local media reported that the migrants had been aboard 12 boats and had been taken to Italy.
According to Italy's transport ministry, four men with Kalashnikov rifles sped out from the Libyan shore during the rescue and ordered the coastguard to return a boat that had been emptied of migrants.
Some of the gunmen then jumped onto the boat and took off with it, added Transport Minister Maurizio Lupi.
The UNHCR says almost 3,500 people died attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe in 2014, making it the world's most dangerous sea crossing for migrants trying to enter the European Union.
More than 200,000 people were rescued during the same period.
Many were plucked from the sea as a result of an Italian operation known as Mare Nostrum, which was launched in October 2013 in response to a tragedy near Lampedusa in which 366 migrants died.
That operation has now ended, leading the UNHCR to warn EU leaders to expect more deaths.
Some European countries, including the UK, have said a rescue service for migrants could encourage refugees to continue making the crossing.
The EU now runs a border control operation with fewer ships, called Triton, which only covers waters close to Europe's coast.


Wales men's hockey team suffered an agonising late defeat by Scotland in their EuroHockey Championships II final.

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Scotland scored twice in three minutes in the final quarter to win 2-1 in Glasgow.
James Carson gave Wales the lead from a penalty corner, but Ben Cosgrove and Alan Forsyth won it for the hosts.
Earlier the Wales women's team lost 3-0 to Italy to finish fourth at their EuroHockey Championships in Cardiff.
Chiara Tiddi, Celina Traverso and Federica Carta scored the Italian goals.
"We came out fighting for the bronze today but just couldn't hit the line," midfielder Sian French told BBC Wales Sport.
"We'll keep on pushing as a team for the next two years and we'll come back even stronger next time."
Because two teams get promoted from the B Division, Wales's men will compete in Europe's top tier at the next EuroHockey Championships in 2019.
On Friday, Wales women's hopes of rising into Europe's top tier were shattered in a 2-1 defeat by Russia.
Wales' men secured promotion to their top tier by beating France 4-3 in their semi-final in Glasgow.
Wales women had beaten Austria and Poland, but lost to Belarus on the way to the semi-finals.
Neither Wales side has been in the EuroHockey A Division since it was reduced to eight teams more than a decade ago.
The nation's women were playing in the third tier just four years ago.


Three men have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a man was found dead on Christmas Eve.

Mohammed Abdurezek, who had links to Swansea and Newcastle, was found with several stab wounds by a dog-walker in Siston, South Gloucestershire.
A post-mortem examination revealed the 31-year-old died from multiple stab wounds.
The three men, one aged 42 and two 22, remain in custody, an Avon and Somerset Police spokesman said.


Two top Bollywood stars have sparred over claims of "nepotism" in the industry.

Kangana Ranaut recently said that filmmaker Karan Johar was fit to play the character of a "stereotypical Bollywood biggie" in her biopic.
She described the character as being "very snooty", and a "flag bearer of nepotism and the movie mafia".
Johar responded on Monday, saying that if she was so terrorised by the industry, she should "leave it".
In an interview with the NDTV news channel, Johar added that he was "done with Kangana playing the woman and victim card".
Ranaut, who came to Bollywood from a small town in the northern state of Himachal Pradesh, has often said that some filmmakers were unwelcoming towards "outsiders" like her.
"In my biopic, if ever it's made, you'll play that stereotypical Bollywood biggie, who is like you know...very snooty and completely intolerant towards outsiders," she told Johar on his talk show last month.
The director on Monday said Ranaut's assessment was wrong.
"You [Ranaut] cannot be this victim at every given point of time who has a sad story to tell about how you've been terrorised by the bad film industry. Leave it," he told NDTV.
Bolllywood is one of the biggest movie industries in the world, but critics say that getting a break into films is extremely difficult.


Welsh university tuition fees will be pegged at £9,000 next year despite colleges in England being given the go-ahead to charge up to £9,250.

Students from Wales will be able to claim up to £4,954 in grants and borrow the rest, wherever they study.
The announcement comes ahead of the publication of the Diamond report into higher education and student finance.
One senior academic has warned that Welsh universities could become "second rate" if they could not increase fees.
Education Secretary Kirsty Williams said: "This decision gives certainty for those who want to go to university for the academic year 2017/18, giving people the option to study where they choose, including in England where tuition fees are set to increase."
Currently, students from Wales pay the first £3,900 of their annual tuition fees, with the Welsh Government paying up to £5,100.
As well as the tuition fee grant and loans, Ms Williams announced a means-tested maintenance grant of up to £5,161.
She has argued that living costs are a bigger barrier than tuition fees to poorer students going to university.
The UK government linked its permission for higher fees at English universities to better teaching, with the new maximum of £9,250 possibly increasing by inflation in future years.
In August, Swansea University vice-chancellor Prof Richard Davies warned higher education in Wales risked becoming "second rate" if colleges could not increase their fees as in England.
Responding to Friday's announcement, he claimed there had not been "enough time for the Welsh Government to look at this properly since the announcement in England".
"I hope they find some way of allowing for inflation," he added.
The National Union of Students president Fflur Elin welcomed the news.
She said: "We want to ensure that students from all backgrounds can access high quality courses. The cost of the courses should not be a barrier."
Welsh Conservatives education spokesman, Darren Millar AM, said: "We welcome the move towards means-tested maintenance grants and the anchoring of tuition fee costs."


In our series of letters by African journalists, Nigerian novelist and writer Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani looks at a mother's desperate battle to recover her kidnapped toddler.

For many victims of the Boko Haram insurgency in north-eastern Nigeria, the tragedy never seems to end.  It simply takes on new dimensions.
Take the case of 32-year-old Maria David Zaya, whose two-year-old daughter, Precious, was kidnapped by militants of the Islamist group in September 2014, while she was visiting her in-laws in Madagali in Adamawa state.
Precious was taken captive along with six other children and two women who lived in the same neighbourhood.
Two weeks later, one of the women escaped.
She told Mrs Zaya that Precious had been quite favoured in captivity because of her light skin and pretty face, and given to one of the wives of an "amir", a Boko Haram commander, who did not have any children of her own.
Distressed about the thought of not seeing her daughter ever again, Mrs Zaya returned to Port Harcourt, in the southern state of Rivers, where her husband, David, works as a security man.
Shortly after, she gave birth to her second child, a boy named Emma.
Seven months after she returned, Mrs Zaya received some unexpected good news: the Nigerian military had rescued a number of Boko Haram captives from the Sambisa forest, and taken them to the Malkohi camp for displaced people in Yola, the main city in Adamawa.
"One of my neighbours in the village saw my daughter and some of the other six missing children there and called me to come quickly," said Mrs Zaya.
But by the time she arrived, Precious had disappeared.
After three months of shuttling between various government, military and NGO offices, with the assistance of a Red Cross official, Mrs Zaya finally located her daughter at the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna, where legitimate wives of Boko Haram members (not those forcefully married) were being held with their children for a debriefing process.
"When I saw Precious, she was wearing a headscarf but I recognised her," Mrs Zaya said.
"She continued following me and staring at me."
More on Boko Haram crisis
The town that lost its girls
'Boko Haram took my children'
Escape from Boko Haram
Mrs Zaya soon learned that the girl she believed to be Precious had a new name, Yagana, and was in the custody of a Boko Haram wife called Asabe.
She said Asabe became furious when Mrs Zaya presented herself as the girl's mother, insisting that Yagana was her younger sister.
Following the ensuing fracas, the military officials asked Mrs Zaya to return with her husband and with any other proof she might have of the child's parentage.
A month later, in September 2015, the couple came with photos of Precious and the girl's birth certificate, but they were denied access to the camp because of an unauthorised official was accompanying them.
It was not until December that Mrs Zaya was assigned another authorised Red Cross official to accompany her back to Kaduna.
However, by then, the residents of the defence academy refugee camp had been released.
After months of frantic searching and desperate letters to relevant authorities, Mrs Zaya finally located Asabe in a remote village in Damboa in Borno state, where the woman had taken the disputed child.
"This kind of situation is not common but it is also not a new thing," said Jethro Zarma of the State Investigative Bureau in Yola, one of the officers now handling the case.
Based on police records, he said, there have been other incidents of more than one parent claiming a child rescued from Boko Haram captivity.
Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani:
"It is frightening to imagine the number of children rescued from Boko Haram who may have ended up in the custody of opportunistic strangers"
When several attempts to get Asabe to turn up at the police station with the child failed, Mr Zarma said the department eventually sought the assistance of the military, which then sent soldiers into a volatile area of Damboa to escort the disputed child to a police station in Maiduguri, Borno's main city, last month.
But Asabe did not come along.
The child, now almost five, was instead accompanied by an elderly couple, who presented themselves as the girl's grandparents.
A confrontation ensued between the couple and Mrs Zaya.
"They became so violent and caused a lot of confusion at the police station," Mr Zarma said.
In the end, the child was taken into the custody of the Borno state government, where she has remained for the past three weeks.
"We will keep her here for her safety, pending confirmation of the child's identity," said Ladi Clarke, an official of the state's social welfare office.
"The effort can only be made by Maria because she is the complainant," she added.
Mrs Zaya is now working towards hiring a lawyer to convince a court to order a DNA test.
Until then, while her husband awaits his family's return to their home in Port Harcourt, Mrs Zaya lives with one-year-old Emma in a tent within the premises of the St Theresa's Catholic Church in Yola, which has been converted into a camp for persons displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency.
"I will not go back to Port Harcourt until I finish everything," she said.
"I will wait until I get my baby."
It is frightening to imagine the number of children rescued from Boko Haram who may have ended up in the custody of opportunistic strangers.
More from Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani:


The European Commission has disclosed a preliminary finding that Amazon's tax arrangements in Luxembourg probably constitute "state aid".

The EC's doubts about the arrangement were detailed in a document on Friday.
The EC said that its "preliminary view is that the tax ruling... by Luxembourg in favour of Amazon constitutes state aid."
However, Amazon said it "has received no special tax treatment from Luxembourg".
"We are subject to the same tax laws as other companies operating here [in Luxembourg]," it said.
The Luxembourg finance ministry said: "Luxembourg is confident that the state aid allegations in this case are without merit and will be able to convince the Commission of the legitimacy of the anticipatory decision in question and that no competitive advantage was granted," it said.
The European Commission began a probe of the tax arrangement last year, saying that it had suspicions it broke EU rules.
The Commission document, which was sent to the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Affairs in October, gives its rationale for launching the investigation.
The Commission said it had "no indication" that the tax arrangement was "compatible with the internal market".
The current European Commission chief, Jean-Claude Juncker, was prime minister of Luxembourg when the deal was struck.
Mr Juncker has come under pressure over claims that around 340 global companies were granted tax  avoidance deals during his 18 year tenure in Luxembourg.
Commission doubts over the Amazon deal included whether Luxembourg had properly looked into Amazon's "transfer pricing" proposals about how money would be moved between different Amazon subsidiaries.
Doubts also existed about whether the country had assessed that the proposed tax regime was in line with market conditions before agreeing the deal in 2003, the European Commission document said.
The Commission also had questions about how royalty payments between certain Amazon companies were calculated, and whether "Amazon has a financial incentive to exaggerate the amount of the royalty" between its Luxembourg head office company and an Amazon firm that holds shares in the head office company.
"If the royalty is exaggerated, it would unduly reduce the tax paid by Amazon in Luxembourg by shifting profits to an untaxed entity from the perspective of corporate taxation," the EC said.
It added that Luxembourg might have been too hasty in assessing Amazon's requested arrangement before striking the deal.
Luxembourg's finance ministry said it "has provided all the information required by the Commission and cooperated fully with the Commission in its investigation."
"Among other things, detailed reports on the transfer price requested by the Commission were disclosed," it added.
Luxembourg is also being investigated by the Commission over suspected "sweetheart" tax deals with the financing arm of carmaker Fiat.
In addition, Ireland's tax deal with Apple and the Netherlands' arrangement with Starbucks are being scrutinised as part of a crackdown on multinationals' tax avoidance schemes.


A hairy crab named after David Hasselhoff hitched a ride on an ocean "super-highway" to cross from the Pacific to the Atlantic millions of years ago.

The crabs reproduce by releasing many larvae into the water so that a handful reach other vents and colonise them.
But it is thought that they survive for only a short time in open waters; so a strong west-to-east current around Antarctica may have aided their spread.
The animal was discovered in 2011.
The "Hoff" is a type of yeti crab, which is recognised for its hairs, or setae, along its claws and limbs. It lives in one of the most extreme environments on the planet; more than 2,000m under the sea where volcanic vents superheat the water to 380C and there is no light and very little oxygen.
The crab feeds by "farming" bacteria on its hairy chest, then using special comb-like mouthparts to strain off the microbes so that it can eat them.
The crustacean's humorous nickname honours the hairy-chested US actor and singer David Hasselhoff.
In a study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Dr Christopher Roterman and colleagues propose that the "Hoff crab" probably originated around the vents that populate mid-ocean ridges in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
It then expanded into the Atlantic through the Drake Passage that separates South America and Antarctica, spreading along volcanic vent regions that are now extinct.
The crab appears to have exploited the ocean current known as the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), which flows in a clockwise direction, west to east around Antarctica, through Drake Passage.
The crabs can occur at astonishing densities around vents in the southern part of their range. But at the volcanic vents of the south-west Indian ridge, for example, the crabs only occur at low densities and are swamped by other vent animals.
Dr Roterman, a zoologist at the University of Oxford, said the exact reasons for this were unclear, but it could have something to do with the crab's reproductive strategy.
"We suspect their [larvae] dispersal capability may be limited," he told BBC News.
"The fact they have spread so quickly in the Southern Ocean is because the ACC provides a high-speed highway for their larvae.
"But when they head further north, we think they may have a disadvantage against other hydrothermal vent animals."
This part of the research is only at a preliminary stage, said Dr Roterman, but examinations of the crab's larvae reveal they resemble miniature versions of the adult animal. However, these lack a functional mouth and have a small yolk sac. This suggests they may only be able to survive for short times in the water.
Analysis of the DNA of yeti crabs - including the Hoff variety - suggests these crustaceans began to expand and diversify about 40 million years ago.
Some scientists had wondered whether the animals living around volcanic vents were relic species, largely unaffected by environmental changes on land and shallower parts of the ocean.
But most of the species living around volcanic vents today appear to have radiated within the last 55 million years.
The reasons for this are unclear, but a period of intense global warming spanning several million years that dramatically reduced deep-sea oxygen levels globally could be to blame.
This event is known as the Palaeocene-Eocene thermal maximum and is marked by a rise in global temperatures of 6C. The causes remain unclear but the initial changes could have been amplified by a massive release into the atmosphere of methane stored in icy deposits on the ocean floor.
The latest paper appears to confirm a picture in which the inhabitants of deep-sea vents may be periodically wiped out and the vents only repopulated by a wave of new species once conditions become favourable again.
During episodes of extreme climate warming, circulation between the well oxygenated surface waters and those deeper down is thought to decline, leading to the gradual depletion of oxygen in the deep sea.
"Yeti crabs and other such creatures may in fact be especially prone to extinction when there is less oxygen available in the deep ocean," said Dr Roterman.
"This is because if deep-sea ocean oxygen levels fall, the amount of oxygen available to these animals, that already live in an oxygen-poor environment at the limits of their physiological tolerance, may drop below the minimum level at which they can survive.
"They would face the stark choice of 'suffocate or starve'."
Paul.Rincon-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter


The family of Masterchef contestant Helen Barker have paid tribute to "a talented artist" after she was found dead at her home in Wiltshire.

The 38-year-old's body was found by her father at a house on Shearman Street in Trowbridge last Thursday.
A 78 year old man - who is not related to Ms Barker - was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and actual bodily harm, police said.
He has since been bailed until the end of November, pending further enquiries.
In a statement Ms Barker's family said it had been "left devastated" by her "untimely death".
"She was much loved and will be greatly missed by us all.
"She was a bright young woman who, in addition to her attainment of a BSc degree in Dental Technology at the University of Wales Institute Cardiff, was a talented artist and an accomplished cook, having appeared on the Masterchef television programme.
"It will be difficult to come to terms with her loss, but this is being aided by the kind words and messages of support we have received and for which we are very grateful."


The manager of Tottenham Hotspur has described a footballer who had to have his legs amputated following a car crash as "an inspiration".

Shaun Whiter, 27, was helping his friend Joey Abbs change a flat tyre in Newmarket, Suffolk, on 1 July when the crash occurred.
The Spurs fan received a letter from Mauricio Pochettino praising his "incredible courage".
Mr Whiter is still in hospital undergoing further procedures.
He worked as an estate agent in Stansted, Essex, and was due to begin training with Newmarket Town FC when he was crushed by a vehicle as he tried to help his friend fix his car.
Read more on this story and other Suffolk news
Pochettino wrote: "Your determination and strength is an inspiration to others..."
On his Facebook page Mr Whiter thanked his friends for raising awareness of what happened.
"A massive bit of respect for Mauricio Pochettino taking the time and making this letter a whole lot more personal to me and my story," he wrote.
Mr Whiter, a keen all-round sportsman has expressed his determination to take part in the Paralympics in the future.
He is also due to marry his fiancÃ©e Charlotte Way next July and has vowed to "walk down the aisle".
"There is no doubt that with your remarkable spirit and resolution, you will be walking down the aisle," Mr Pochettino's letter continued.
Commenting on the letter, Mr Whiter's brother Luke said: "I knew Spurs was the team to support... Shaun we will be back down the lane in no time..."
Mr Whiter's friend Mr Abbs, who plays football for Cambridgeshire club Soham Town Rangers, suffered a "serious" leg injury in the crash.
Several football clubs have arranged tribute matches for both players and well-wishers have pledged close to Â£75,000 on fundraising websites.
A 40-year-old man from Haverhill, Suffolk, has been charged with two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and is due at Cambridge Crown Court on 8 August.


England could win the Ashes series against Australia this winter, says South Africa captain Faf du Plessis.

The hosts beat the Proteas by 177 runs at Old Trafford on Monday, sealing a 3-1 series win.
England play Australia in the first of five Tests in Brisbane on 23 November.
"If you have assistance and skill, which England's bowlers have, you can target Australia's batting line-up," said Du Plessis, who captained his side to a series win down under last winter.
After the loss to England, Du Plessis praised the hosts' opening bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad.
"They are relentless and our batting line-up wasn't strong enough for them," the South African told Test Match Special.
"Australia have fiery and quick batsmen so England will need to get through them."
But he added: "I think England could be Ashes winners. They have a balanced team."
Du Plessis scored 61 in the fourth innings against England as South Africa looked to chase down 380.
The captain joined Hashim Amla at the crease with his side struggling at 40-3, before the two batsman gave the tourists some hope by sharing a 123-run partnership.
"When Hashim and myself were batting I thought we could get to the second new ball, which would have been tough," said Du Plessis.
"Then anything would have been possible.
"But to lose Hashim and then the cluster of wickets was disappointing."
The loss brings to an end a disappointing summer for South Africa, having lost series' against England in all three formats of the game.
They also failed to qualify out of the group stages in the Champions Trophy.
"We know we are not the finished article, we're not where we need to be," said Du Plessis. "We had a lot of inexperienced batters and the experienced batters didn't perform or come to the party."


A man has died after being Tasered by police who were called following serious concerns about his welfare and behaviour, a watchdog has said.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission said officers were called to Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, to deal with the man, who appeared to be injured.
He became unresponsive after being stunned with a Taser on Tuesday evening and was later pronounced dead.
Dyfed-Powys Police referred the case to the IPCC, which is investigating.
Emergency services were called to the Morfa area of the town by a concerned member of the public.
The IPCC said police officers "engaged with the man" before it is understood a Taser was discharged.
"The man became unresponsive and was subsequently pronounced dead," a spokesman added.
A spokeswoman for the force said: "A full investigation has commenced, and Dyfed-Powys Police referred the matter to the IPCC, who will now conduct an independent investigation.
"We are fully co-operating with them. Our thoughts are with the family of the man."


The iconic London bus has become one of Northern Ireland's most famous products, but a new order could be the last.

Finance now approved, Boris Johnson is set to buy another 195 Routemaster double-deckers from Wrightbus.
It will mean the County Antrim firm will have supplied 1,000 of the vehicles, fulfilling the terms of a contract won in 2009.
At a cost of up to Â£350k per bus, it was a lucrative deal.
The out-going mayor had wanted 2,000 of the hybrid vehicles by 2020.
However, a new mayor, to be elected in May, could have different ideas.
Labour candidate Sadiq Khan recently called for a freeze on new orders.
His Liberal Democrat opponent, Caroline Pidgeon, claims, among other things, that the buses are too expensive.
As for Conservative Zac Goldsmith, his intentions have not been made public.
So expect the bus, which was used to launch the DUP's last Westminster election campaign, to become an election issue in itself.
Battery problems, for example, have undermined its green credentials.
Even if the project were to continue, Wrightbus would have to re-tender for another contract, in competition with other firms.
Scottish firm Alexander Dennis recently unveiled a model which mimics the Routemaster.
However, it is worth pointing out that Routemasters only represent a small part of the overall, profitable Wrightbus business.
So whatever the outcome, it is unlikely to signify another horror story in terms of Ballymena employment figures.
But while celebrating a new order, Northern Ireland could easily be giving a farewell toast to what has become the symbol of its manufacturing sector.


A murder inquiry has been launched after a body found in Clydebank was confirmed as that of missing local teenager Paige Doherty.

The 15-year-old, whose family home is in the West Dunbartonshire town, was last seen on Saturday morning.
Her body was discovered in a wooded area, just off Great Western Road, at about 12:45 on Monday.
Ms Doherty's family said they were "absolutely devastated" after police confirmed she had been murdered.
Posting on Facebook, the teenager's mother Pamela Munro wrote: "We are absolutely devastated, as will many people who know her will be xxx."
Det Supt Duncan Sloan, of Police Scotland's major investigations unit, confirmed that a murder inquiry was under way during a news conference on Tuesday.
He told reporters: "The body of a 15-year-old girl who was found here yesterday, I can now confirm was positively identified as Paige Doherty who was reported missing from Clydebank on Saturday evening.
"I want to announce that this is being treated as a murder investigation."
The schoolgirl, who was 4ft 8in and slim, with long dark hair, was wearing a dark jacket, jeans and white Nike trainers when she went missing.
She was last seen at about 08:15 on Saturday when she left a friend's house in Clydebank and it is thought she was making her way to a bus stop to travel to the hairdressers where she worked in Kirkintilloch, about 12 miles away.
The alarm was raised later when she did not show up.
Missing posters were put up around the town and a dedicated Facebook page was set up to help find her.
Det Supt Sloan said officers were trying to trace Ms Doherty's movements.
"I am appealing to members of the public - we need to piece together the movements of Paige from 8.20am on Saturday when she went missing until we find the body at around 1pm on Monday," he said.
"Anybody who knows Paige, please come forward with any information around her lifestyle or any reason why you think somebody would have attacked Paige."
The detective said this was a "harrowing time" for Ms Doherty's family and said his heart went out to them.
He described the teenager as a "warm" girl with a future planned ahead of her and said he was "open to all motives" for the murder.
"Paige was a young, friendly girl with plenty of friends and for her life to be taken away so brutally at such a young age is unfathomable to everyone," he added.
Laura Mason, chief education officer at West Dunbartonshire Council, also paid tribute to the teenager.
She said: "Paige was a bright and popular pupil with a good sense of humour.
"Our thoughts are with Paige's family and friends, and we are doing everything we can to support our young people at this sad time."
Det Supt Sloan did not reveal what injuries the teenager sustained but said a post-mortem examination would be held on Tuesday afternoon to determine the exact cause of death.
He added: "We will do all in our power to investigate this and bring some answers as to the circumstances leading to the death of Paige Doherty."
Forensic officers were continuing to work at the site where her body was found. A large area is cordoned off and a police tent remains in place.


Barrow want to retain Andy Cook but expect the striker to explore opportunities in the Football League, says manager Paul Cox.

Cook, 25, scored 25 goals in the National League last season, helping the Bluebirds to a mid-table finish.
He returned to Holker Street after a stint at Grimsby in July 2014.
"The lad wants to play League football and I can't and won't have a go at players who want to play at a higher level," Cox told BBC Radio Cumbria.
"There are clubs at our level who have come in for him, but his agent has categorically said he doesn't want to sign for another Conference club.
"It's one we might need to be patient on."


A man and a woman have admitted dangerous dog offences after attacks on two women by the same dog left them scarred for life.

Sylvia Baillie, 60, was bitten on the cheek by the Japanese Akita in Paisley, in July 2016, after trying to kiss it.
Leeane McHugh, 35, admitted being the owner of a dog that was dangerously out of control when it attacked Ms Baillie.
Her boyfriend Patrick Maher, 46, pled guilty to the same charge in relation to an attack on his aunt Jane Darroch.
The 72-year-old was left with "severe injury and permanent disfigurement" to her arm.
Paisley Sheriff Court heard that neither McHugh or Maher had gone to the aid of Ms Baillie after the attack at their flat.
The pair had other dangerous dog charges dropped for agreeing to admit guilt in relation to the attacks on Ms Baillie and Ms Darroch.
Procurator Fiscal Depute Alan Parfery told the court that on the day Ms Baillie was attacked, all parties had been at a funeral and had been drinking at Ms McHugh and Mr Maher's house
He said: "The 60-year-old [Sylvia Baillie] made to leave the property during the course of the evening and, in the course of waving and saying goodbye, made to wave goodbye to the dog.
"She went to give the dog a kiss and, at that time, the dog bit her on the face.
"The dog's jaw locked, for what's described as a few seconds, before her daughter grabbed the dog and pulled the dog away.
"Neither [Ms McHugh or Mr Maher] did anything during that period of time."
He said Ms Baillie needed so many stitches that doctors were unable to say how many had been applied.
On 30 June last year, Maher's aunt was bitten by the dog while it was tied up outside her home.
Her wrist bone was exposed and she had to have 12 stitches.
The dog, which has been in kennels since being seized by police, faces being euthanised.
Sheriff David Pender called for background reports on Ms Maher and MrMcHugh and deferred sentence until next month.


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Cohen Bramall - Arsenal's unlikely new recruit - is attempting to sum up a whirlwind few weeks.
One minute the 20-year-old is working at a car plant while playing part-time for Hednesford Town in the Northern Premier League, the next he's training at a Premier League club.
"I was working in Crewe for Bentley Motors," he tells BBC Sport.
"I was on the production line, filling up cars with gasses, brake fluid, washer fluid and all that. Day in day out, Monday to Friday, 6.30am until 5.15pm.
"I enjoyed it but when you're doing those shifts, then training on Tuesday and Thursday, going from Crewe to Birmingham, and playing on Saturday it's pretty tiring."
But his busy schedule hit a setback just days before Christmas.
"I got made redundant by Bentley on the Tuesday [20 December], which was crazy because I didn't know what I was going to do," he explains.
I think the first one-two I did was with Alexis Sanchez
"I needed a full-time wage coming in, not a part-time wage from Hednesford, so I started thinking of getting a new job."
The following day, however, his world was turned upside down.
"My agent Lee Payne rings me on the Wednesday saying you've got a trial at Arsenal," Bramall recalls. "I was like 'what?' - I was gobsmacked.
"He said pack your stuff and get to this postcode, so I packed all my stuff in about an hour, got there as fast as I could, slept for a bit, then the next minute I'm in training with the first team.
"It was crazy how quick everything happened, how I met everyone and they just took me straight in. I had to take the opportunity with both hands."
Crewe-born Bramall started playing semi-professional football for Kidsgrove Athletic as a 17-year-old, and had spells at Newcastle Town, Market Drayton and Nantwich.
He was picked up at Hednesford by then manager Liam McDonald, who has likened Bramall's story to that of striker Jamie Vardy, who went from non-league to Premier League champion with Leicester in the space of four years.
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Crystal Palace and Sheffield Wednesday had both watched the promising left-back closely, but it was Arsenal who agreed terms on the £40,000 deal and made Bramall's dreams come true.
"Two weeks ago, I played for Sheffield Wednesday in an Under-23s game against Birmingham City," Bramall says.
"Brian McDermott, one of the scouts at Arsenal came down. He doesn't really come down to those sort of games, he's always abroad and looking at the next star. If he wasn't there it wouldn't have happened.
"I would tell the whole of non-league to just keep believing and keep working hard. If you don't work hard it's not coming. You need to work hard, you need to put 110% into it and believe in yourself, stay confident, stay humble and keep going."
"I came up to Arsenal, I get my kit, I get ready and I'm expecting to go out with the Under-23s, but I was training with the first team," he recalls.
"It was insane. You see people on social media, you see them on Match of the Day, then you see them in real life and your heart's pounding. It was crazy.
"Danny Welbeck, Chuba Akpom, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - all top guys who are dead welcoming and they knew my name. I was gobsmacked. I was so happy that they knew my name and honoured to play against those players. It was just a dream come true.
"I think the first one-two I did was with Alexis Sanchez."
"It wasn't really a conversation, it was a quick shake of the hand. A 'Hi, nice to meet you, Cohen' and a quick chuckle, really," he says.
"It was unbelievable seeing him. One of the top, top managers in the world. You see him on TV a lot, then you see him face-to-face and it's 'wow'. It blows your mind, mate.
"It was two days of training, a quick two-day session with the first-team and then we just spoke about what's going to happening next.
"I haven't even had time to reflect on what's really happened. It hasn't even hit me where I am.
"I just need to forget who I train with and work on me, my personality, my body and mentality. I know I'm around with the stars but I need to do the best I can and try and not get trapped in that frame of mind where I'm with all the big dogs.
"It's an honour to play with them but I need to do what's best for me."
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Celtic opened their new 2,900-capacity safe standing section in their first home game under Brendan Rodgers.

Rail seating has been installed in the north-east corner of Celtic Park and fans populated the area for Saturday's 2-1 friendly win over Wolfsburg.
The Scottish champions were granted a safe-standing licence in June last year by Glasgow City Council.
"This is another step in the redevelopment of Celtic Park," said the club.
"This is an exciting development for fans reared on the songs and stories from the old Celtic Park and the iconic Jungle. But it's also a major step forward in improving the safety and security of supporters."
Scotland is not bound by the law that banned standing areas in the top two divisions in England in 1994, following the Hillsborough disaster in 1989.
The issue about whether to allow some standing areas has been revisited since then.
Prior to the merger of the Scottish Premier League with the Scottish Football League to form the Scottish Professional Football League in 2013, top-flight clubs were given the all clear to have safe-standing areas within their stadiums.
In Saturday's friendly, Paul Seguin gave visitors Wolfsburg the lead with a deflected shot.
However, Callum McGregor equalised with a fine finish before Ryan Christie showed neat footwork to net the second-half winner.
Danish defender Erik Sviatchenko went off with a head injury in the first half for Celtic, who trail Lincoln Red Imps 1-0 going into Wednesday's Champions League second qualifying round second leg in Glasgow.


Wales' population has risen by 14,100 to 3.113 million, according to the latest figures.

Office for National Statistics data, for June 2016, shows a 0.5% increase compared to 2015.
As a percentage, it is the lowest of the home nations and overall, the UK population rose by 538,000 to 65,648,000 with net migration accounting for 336,000, or 62.4%.
Since 2006, Wales' population has risen by 4.3%, again the lowest in the UK.
UK-wide, more births and fewer deaths made up 35.8% of the rise and 2016 saw the highest increase since 1947 when a surge of births after World War Two saw the population spike by 551,000.


Northern Ireland's secretary of state has said that an election is now "highly probable" as talks so far have failed to break the political deadlock.

James Brokenshire made the comments after meeting Irish Foreign Minister Charlie Flanagan.
Martin McGuinness resigned on Monday in protest against the handling of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme.
The Sinn Féin MLA said he was willing to meet the DUP about the crisis that looks set to spark a snap election.
After meeting Mr Flanagan on Thursday, Mr Brokenshire said they discussed "a way forward" to "support the parties to avoid an election".
The secretary of state added that "the clock is ticking down towards the start of next week" when an election would be inevitable.
"It's important for the parties to talk together and anything that indicates a move to encourage that type of discussion I take as helpful, albeit that position does remain serious and stark," he said.
"We are still looking at an election, but we are doing everything we can, as the two governments, to work with the political parties to see if there is a way forward that can be found," he added.
Mr Brokenshire and Mr Flanagan also held separate meetings with the political parties on Thursday.
The Sinn Féin delegation was led by Mr McGuinness and included Michelle O'Neill and Conor Murphy.
Mr Flanagan said that an election seemed "even more likely" and that there will be "an extremely difficult challenge following the election in putting together an administration".
Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Enda Kenny said any talks between parties would have the full backing of the governments in Dublin and London.
But Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams continued to insist there is no basis for any negotiation.
The party has also confirmed it will not be replacing Mr McGuinness as deputy first minister.
Under Northern Ireland's power-sharing agreement, his departure meant DUP First Minister Arlene Foster also lost her job.
Under Stormont rules, Sinn Féin have until next Monday to nominate a new deputy first minister, or the secretary of state must call an election.
Next Monday, Stormont's finance committee is having an additional meeting to discuss the budget.
Former first minister Mrs Foster has warned that if an election goes ahead, it will be "brutal".
She set up the RHI scheme in 2012 when she was enterprise minister, in an attempt by the NI Executive to increase consumption of heat from renewable sources.
However, businesses received more in subsidies than they paid for fuel, and the scheme became heavily oversubscribed.
Not for the first time the institutions at Stormont are on the brink of collapse, as efforts continue on both sides of the border, to break the deadlock.
On Wednesday night, Martin McGuinness told Enda Kenny he was willing to meet the DUP.
But in a statement later, party president Gerry Adams said while Sinn Féin was open to talks, it could see no basis yet for credible negotiation this side of an election.
From 17:00 GMT on Monday it will be over to the secretary of state to set a date for an election.
While both parties accept an election is the likely outcome, they will continue to use what little time they have left to try to save the institutions."
Sinn Féin Finance Minister Máirtín Ó Muilleoir told BBC's Good Morning Ulster on Thursday that while talks with the DUP were the "right thing to do", he did not hold think they were likely to resolve matters.
Sinn Féin is to hold the first of a number of election selection conventions on Sunday.
An election, which is widely predicted to take place in early March, could cost the taxpayer around £5m.
Ulster Unionist Party leader Mike Nesbitt said that direct rule from Westminster was a possibility should the two biggest parties returned in the election fail to reach agreement.
But Colum Eastwood, leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), said there could be no return to direct rule.