Wild beavers, once part of England’s rich tapestry of wildlife, had been absent in the country for around 400 years. Hunted to extinction, the animals were in demand for their meat, fur, and castoreum, which was used in medicines and perfumes.
But in 2008, wild beavers were found for the first time in England on East Devon’s River Otter. Although the origin of these animals here is unclear, they are clearly thriving, with an estimated 15 family groups colonising nearly all of the river’s catchment.
But their future on the river, and indeed in the country, has been shrouded in uncertainty for years.
Today, a landmark decision from Defra announced the decision for these enigmatic mammals to be given a permanent right to remain in their East Devon river home, securing their future in England.
The Government made its decision for the mammals to permanently remain on the River Otter thanks to evidence in a report published earlier this year from the River Otter Beaver Trial (ROBT).
The ROBT — run by Devon Wildlife Trust and partners — was a 5-year trial analysing the beavers and their impacts. It concluded that the animals’ presence was overwhelmingly beneficial to the people and wildlife living along East Devon’s River Otter.
Full article here – https://www.discoverwildlife.com/news/landmark-decision-gives-wild-beavers-permanent-right-to-remain-in-england/
