Half a dozen beavers have been legally launched at two websites in Somerset in a bid to revive a river and wetland.
The releases, one involving a mom and her three youngsters and one other involving a pair of Eurasian beavers, came about at spots throughout the Nationwide Belief’s Holnicote Property on Exmoor on Tuesday.
It’s the second time the charity has been granted a licence by Pure England to launch beavers into the wild after the primary launch on the Purbeck Property in Dorset in March final 12 months.
The species was beforehand launched into enclosed areas of the Holnicote Property in 2020 as a part of a trial reintroduction.
Ben Eardley, undertaking supervisor on the Nationwide Belief, stated the newest launch was “extremely thrilling and is the newest step in our ambitions to revive an enormous swathe of Somerset countryside and moorland to assist convey again nature”.
He known as beavers “extraordinary companions” within the work finished by the charity to assist “restore nature” and stated the semiaquatic mammals play a “very important position” in slowing water movement, creating and holding wetland habitats, decreasing erosion and enhancing water high quality.
Mr Eardley added: “Throughout the property they may have the chance to develop their very own territory, enabling them to create wetlands, ponds, construct dams, and enrich the panorama in methods solely beavers can.”
Why the comeback?
It comes almost 12 months after the government approved the wild release of beavers following years of dialogue about their reintroduction.
Beavers turned extinct in Britain greater than 400 years in the past resulting from attempting to find their pelts, meat, and glands.
They’ve made their means again to England’s rivers in recent times, via escapes from enclosures and unlawful releases, and in 2022 got authorized safety.
Conservationists have lengthy known as for the return of beavers to the English countryside, however issues have been raised about their launch, together with the danger of flooding and concentrating on of crops equivalent to maize and cricket bat willow.
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Nature minister Mary Creagh stated: “It was a privilege to witness beavers returning to Somerset.
“These extraordinary creatures are good for biodiversity, cut back flood threat and enhance water high quality in our rivers.
“The return of beavers is an important a part of this authorities’s mission to guard and restore nature, and we’re working intently with native communities to maximise their advantages.”
On Monday, two pairs of beavers have been launched by Cornwall Wildlife Belief into the Par and Fowey river catchments.
