Beavers return to the Loch Ness area for the first time in about 500 years
The charities' own account of the release, with what beavers are expected to change and how the project will unfold.
What happened: A family of six beavers was released on Nov. 4 at a lochan on Trees for Life's Dundreggan rewilding estate in Glenmoriston, in the Loch Ness catchment, under a licence NatureScot granted on Oct. 30. It is the first release of the Ness Beaver Project, through which Trees for Life and Beaver Trust plan to bring at least 15 beaver families to waters around Loch Ness over three years. Loch Ness was the last place beavers were recorded in Scotland, in a chronicle from 1526, before they were hunted out.
Why it matters: Beaver dams create pools and wetlands that help frogs, insects, birds and bats, and can slow water and reduce downstream flooding, the partners say.
How much agreement is there? Some disagreement. The charities report strong public support after drop-in events and consultations, but their project page says the consultation gathered concerns as well as opportunities from locals and landowners; a monitoring and mitigation group is being set up to handle problems.
Could someone help? The project plans citizen science, education events and guided tours at Dundreggan once the animals settle.
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Eurasian beaver
After exploring Historic return of beavers to waters around Loch Ness - Inverness Chamber of Commerce, the species' near-disappearance and comeback across Europe is told in Eurasian beaver.
The Eurasian beaver was hunted close to extinction for fur and castoreum, leaving about 1,200 animals in eight relict populations, and has since rebounded to around 1.5 million (2020).
Wikipedia · Wade · 5 min
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