They’ll be back: Licensed to bring back beavers
The Scottish Government has today (Sunday 25 May 2008) announced that it has approved the application by the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) to bring back beavers to Scotland. Conditional approval was granted for up to four beaver families to be reintroduced on a trial basis, after six months quarantine, to Knapdale, Mid-Argyll in spring 2009.
Allan Bantick, Chair of the Scottish Beaver Trial Steering Group said: “This is a historic moment for wildlife conservation. The Scottish Government has now given the go ahead for the first-ever formal reintroduction of a native mammal into the wild in the UK. Beavers have been extinct in Scotland for over 400 years and they are well known for their positive impact on habitats and conditions for other species. By bringing these useful creatures back to their native environment we will have the chance to restore a missing part of our wetland ecosystems and re-establish much needed natural processes.”
David Windmill, Chief Executive of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, said: “This is excellent news. It is a strong and visible sign of the Scottish Government’s commitment to carrying out conservation in Scotland and re-building our depleted biodiversity. This will engage more people with Scottish wildlife and habitat conservation which we believe will also bring economic benefit for rural communities.”
As Simon Milne, Chief Executive of the Scottish Wildlife Trust continues, the challenge now is for the licence holders to fundraise for the project: “Our next steps will be to look carefully at any conditions imposed by the licence and to raise funds for this very exciting five-year venture. This is the chance for individuals and businesses to really play an active role in this ground-breaking project by helping to fund the Scottish Beaver Trial.”
Those interested in supporting the project can donate over the phone or on line by contacting one of the project partners:
- Scottish Wildlife Trust Tel: 0131 312 7765 or www.swt.org.uk
- Royal Zoological Society of Scotland Tel: 0131 314 0309
In January 2007, the first indication of the Scottish Government’s commitment to see beavers back in Scotland was revealed when it, along with its conservation advisor, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), launched a strategy for species management action (Species Action Framework) which included the restoration of the European beaver to Scotland.
In December 2007, following the publication of the results of a two-month long consultation that revealed over 73% of respondents from Mid-Argyll supported a trial reintroduction of beavers to Knapdale, Mid-Argyll, SWT and RZSS as lead partners in the Scottish Beaver Trial, jointly submitted a licence application. The Scottish Beaver Trial will now be actively seeking funding to support the project with the aim of beavers being captured in family groups in Norway in autumn before undertaking six months quarantine prior to release in spring 2009.
***ENDS***
NOTES TO EDITORS
- Simon Milne and Iain Valentine (RZSS) will be available for interview at Edinburgh Zoo from 12 noon – 4 pm on Sunday 25 May. Please phone to book an interview slot.
- The results of the local consultation are available to download as a PDF report from SWT’s website (www.swt.org.uk) and RZSS’s website (www.rzss.org.uk).
- High quality, free-use images of the European beaver are available.
- A detailed media briefing sheet on the European beaver is also available.
- The Scottish Beaver Trial is a partnership project between the Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland. The Mammals Trust UK (a restricted fund of the People’s Trust for Endangered Species) is supporting the project.
- A previous licence application for a trial reintroduction of European beaver in Knapdale, submitted by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), was rejected in 2005. SNH carried out a national consultation in 1998 on the desirability of reintroducing beavers to Scotland and the results showed that 63% of respondents were in favour of a reintroduction. In response to the detailed feedback, the SNH Main Board decided to propose a trial reintroduction in a specific area over a time-limited period rather than undertake a widespread release. After a detailed review in 2000, Knapdale Forest in Mid-Argyll was selected as the most appropriate site for the trial. In October and November 2000 a consultation in the local Knapdale area was carried out by SNH. Sixty-four percent of respondents from the Mid-Argyll area were in favour of the proposal.
- The Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) is a registered charity. It is the largest voluntary body working for all the wildlife of Scotland, representing more than 30,000 members who care for wildlife and the environment. SWT seeks to raise public awareness of threatened habitats and species and manages over 120 wildlife reserves Scotland-wide.
- Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park are owned by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), a registered charity, number SC004064. RZSS was founded by visionary lawyer Thomas Gillespie. The Society was set up ‘to promote, facilitate and encourage the study of zoology and kindred subjects and to foster and develop amongst the people an interest in and knowledge of animal life’.
- RZSS has been involved in several successful species reintroduction programmes in the past. These include native species, such as the Canna mouse, as well as global initiatives including reintroducing the Socorro dove back to the Socorro Islands, off the Mexican coast.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Clara Govier, Communications Manager, SWT
Tel: 07795 241088 or email: cgovier@swt.org.uk
Maxine Finlay, Communications Officer, RZSS
Tel: 07730 650 966 or email: mfinlay@rzss.org.uk