A recent YouGov poll commissioned for the Scottish Beaver Trial partners, a licensed five-year trial reintroduction of Eurasian beavers to the Knapdale in Argyll, has shown a majority in favour of the reintroduction of beavers to Scotland.
The survey of 1652 Scottish adults found three in five (60%) support the reintroduction of beavers to Scotland, with this level of support broadly similar across all demographics.
It found 5% oppose, 30% neither support nor oppose with the rest undecided.
In addition, of those who had been aware of the Scottish Beaver Trial prior to the research (355 respondents), 74% were supportive of beavers being reintroduced to Scotland.
The Trial, a partnership led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, hosted by Forestry Commission Scotland, is the first formal trial reintroduction of a mammal ever to take place in the UK.
The monitoring phase of the five-year study will wrap up in May this year, after which the findings from the independent scientific monitoring programme co-ordinated by Scottish Natural Heritage will be considered by the Scottish Government, with a Ministerial decision expected in the second half of 2015.
Project Manager of the Scottish Beaver Trial, Simon Jones, said: “It is really positive to see majority support for the reintroduction of beavers to Scotland.
“Separate feedback from several business owners in the Argyll area has also been positive and suggests that the Scottish Beaver Trial has boosted visitor numbers.
“Monitoring the social and economic benefits of beavers to the local area was always one of the Trial’s major aims. We hope that any benefits will be lasting.
“The beavers will remain in the Knapdale Forest until a decision on their future is made by the Scottish Government and therefore we will be continuing guided walks in the spring and summer months, so members of the public will be able to visit the site and learn about these fascinating creatures.
“Hopefully this will also give those people who have not yet seen the beavers the chance to do so before a decision is reached.”