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| Beavers return after 400 year gap | Beavers return after 400 year gap |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A total of 11 beavers have been released into the wild in Argyll as part of a reintroduction programme. | A total of 11 beavers have been released into the wild in Argyll as part of a reintroduction programme. |
| Four more may join the Scottish Beaver Trial being run in Knapdale Forest. | Four more may join the Scottish Beaver Trial being run in Knapdale Forest. |
| The beavers have been brought to Scotland from Norway and their release marks a return to the UK after a 400 year absence. | The beavers have been brought to Scotland from Norway and their release marks a return to the UK after a 400 year absence. |
| The release will be studied to determine whether the trial should be extended and beavers reintroduced across Scotland. | The release will be studied to determine whether the trial should be extended and beavers reintroduced across Scotland. |
| Colin Galbraith, of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), has been an enthusiastic backer of the scheme. | Colin Galbraith, of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), has been an enthusiastic backer of the scheme. |
| He said: "I think this is a hugely exciting move and one in which we've got to take people with us. | He said: "I think this is a hugely exciting move and one in which we've got to take people with us. |
| The first beavers to be released into the wild in Scotland for more than 400 years | |
| "There's never been a reintroduction of a mammal back to the UK. | "There's never been a reintroduction of a mammal back to the UK. |
| "We've done the red kite and the sea eagle - they've gone pretty well - people are now behind that. | "We've done the red kite and the sea eagle - they've gone pretty well - people are now behind that. |
| "We've got to try to do this reintroduction of a mammal in a very scientific careful and monitored way." | "We've got to try to do this reintroduction of a mammal in a very scientific careful and monitored way." |
| But not everyone has been behind the scheme. | But not everyone has been behind the scheme. |
| Alan Kettlewhite is a biologist with Argyll Fisheries Trust: "Potentially they can alter the habitats of fish, restricting access to spawning grounds. | Alan Kettlewhite is a biologist with Argyll Fisheries Trust: "Potentially they can alter the habitats of fish, restricting access to spawning grounds. |
| "I think the concerns are based on studies in other countries where sometimes dam-building can prevent fish access to their spawning grounds, particularly in dry years where you don't get much rain in the autumn time." | "I think the concerns are based on studies in other countries where sometimes dam-building can prevent fish access to their spawning grounds, particularly in dry years where you don't get much rain in the autumn time." |
| But SNH's Colin Galbraith said he felt a duty towards the beavers: "For me the argument is very simple. | But SNH's Colin Galbraith said he felt a duty towards the beavers: "For me the argument is very simple. |
| "They were here - we killed them out. | "They were here - we killed them out. |
| "I think we've got the moral obligation to bring them back." | "I think we've got the moral obligation to bring them back." |
| Continuously tested | Continuously tested |
| Project officer Jenny Holden said: "The main things people are concerned about are giardia and cryptosporidium. | |
| "They are bacteria that can infect the guts of humans and make you feel really quite unwell - food-poisoning type bugs. | "They are bacteria that can infect the guts of humans and make you feel really quite unwell - food-poisoning type bugs. |
| "The beavers that are released will have been tested continuously for six months and then throughout the five year trial to make sure they are clear of these bacteria. | "The beavers that are released will have been tested continuously for six months and then throughout the five year trial to make sure they are clear of these bacteria. |
| "So if we find a few years down the line that the beavers are infected, they won't have brought it in, they will have caught it out in the environment here." | "So if we find a few years down the line that the beavers are infected, they won't have brought it in, they will have caught it out in the environment here." |
| Darren Dobson is from the Carinbaan Hotel near the release site. | Darren Dobson is from the Carinbaan Hotel near the release site. |
| He is delighted at the prospect of beavers, and hopes they will prove to be a major tourist attraction. | He is delighted at the prospect of beavers, and hopes they will prove to be a major tourist attraction. |
| He said: "Generally speaking it's all positive. I haven't met anyone myself who is negative to the idea. | He said: "Generally speaking it's all positive. I haven't met anyone myself who is negative to the idea. |
| The beavers were captured in Norway and brought to Argyll for release | The beavers were captured in Norway and brought to Argyll for release |
| "It's going to bring more tourists - and this is just one more thing to add to what this area's got." | "It's going to bring more tourists - and this is just one more thing to add to what this area's got." |
| Scottish Natural Heritage, (SNH), will monitor the relationship between beavers and woodland, water plants, river habitat, water levels, otters, dragonflies, damselflies and freshwater fish. | Scottish Natural Heritage, (SNH), will monitor the relationship between beavers and woodland, water plants, river habitat, water levels, otters, dragonflies, damselflies and freshwater fish. |
| The beavers themselves will also be under close scrutiny, using tracking data. | The beavers themselves will also be under close scrutiny, using tracking data. |
| SNH will co-ordinate the scientific monitoring work with a range of independent bodies, including Oxford University Wildlife Conservation Research Unit and the Argyll Fisheries Trust. | SNH will co-ordinate the scientific monitoring work with a range of independent bodies, including Oxford University Wildlife Conservation Research Unit and the Argyll Fisheries Trust. |
| SNH is contributing £275,000 to the cost of monitoring the trial. | SNH is contributing £275,000 to the cost of monitoring the trial. |
| It is claimed the trial will be a major contribution to Scotland's Species Action Framework, which identifies 32 species, including European beaver, as the focus of new management action. | It is claimed the trial will be a major contribution to Scotland's Species Action Framework, which identifies 32 species, including European beaver, as the focus of new management action. |