Norwegian beavers arrive in UK for Scottish reintroduction

21/11/2008 00:09:03 Beavers in Scotland
November 21st 2008. The Scottish Beaver Trial took a major step last night when four beaver families arrived in Heathrow. The beavers, from Norway, will spend six months in quarantine before being released in Knapdale, mid-Argyll, on a time-limited trial basis in spring 2009.

The Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), project partners for the Scottish Beaver Trial, enlisted the help of a specialist team to assist them with the capture of the beaver families from the Telemark region of Norway in September.

Special capture techniques
For the last two months, the team has been capturing the beaver families, each consisting of one adult male, one adult female and between one to three yearlings or kits. Tracking the beavers and ensuring they were in the correct family groups was an important part of the process.

Iain Valentine, Head of Animals, Conservation & Education for RZSS, explains: "The capture of the beaver families was a complicated process because we wanted to ensure that existing beaver families, which included yearlings and kits, were captured together. Luckily beavers are territorial so families can be tracked within the areas they inhabit.

Family groups
The team in Norway spent long periods of time in specific sites to identify complete family groups, ensuring that none are left behind. Another added complication was that beavers are primarily active at night so the beaver families were tracked from boats patrolling the river and caught in the dark. The team in Norway did a fantastic job and all the beavers are in excellent health.

We would like to thank our partners in Norway, from the University College Telemark and in particular Frank Rosell and his team for the work that they have put in to catching the beavers for us and to the Norwegian Government for allowing the beavers to be captured and transported from their country to Scotland."

Once released, the project partners and Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) will continue to manage the project with Scottish Natural Heritage conducting scientific monitoring on the impact of the beavers.

Hunted to extinction 400 years ago
Simon Jones, Project Manager for the Scottish Beaver Trial, said: "Beavers are native to Britain but were hunted to extinction over 400 years ago. Beavers hold the potential to create new wetland habitats which in turn increases the appeal to other native species. We are excited to get the trial underway and really see what benefits beavers can bring to Scotland."

Minister for Environment Michael Russell added: "This is the latest stage in a truly exciting development for wildlife watchers, not just in Scotland, but around the world. I am sure the beavers are awaiting their release from quarantine and into Knapdale as keenly as I am. Once again I would commend RZSS and SWT for leading such an important project."

The Scottish Beaver Trial The Scottish Beaver Trial is a partnership project between the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, the Scottish Wildlife Trust and host Forestry Commission Scotland to undertake a time-limited trial reintroduction of the European beavers to Knapdale, Mid-Argyll. It is part of Scotland's Species Action Framework, which sets out a strategic approach to species management in Scotland. The Scottish Government has asked Scottish Natural Heritage to coordinate the independent scientific monitoring of the trial, reporting on whether the conditions of the licence are being fully addressed on the ground. For more information visit www.scottishbeavers.org.uk

two month consultation The Scottish Government approved the application of the trial reintroduction in May 2007. This followed a two-month long consultation period with local residents and key stakeholders. The results of this consultation showed that 73% of respondents were in favour of the trial reintroduction. Forestry Commission Scotland manages the trial site of Knapdale Forest as part of the national forest estate. Forestry Commission Scotland serves as the Scottish Government's forestry directorate and is responsible for the protection and expansion of Scotland's forests and woodlands. FCS manages the national forest estate for a range of public benefits - economic, social and environmental. It works closely with a range of national and local stakeholders and partners to deliver the Scottish Government's goals vested in the Scottish Forestry Strategy.