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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Beavers return after 400-year gap | Beavers return after 400-year gap |
| (20 minutes 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. |
| The Scottish Beaver Trial (SBT) is being carried out by the Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland. | The Scottish Beaver Trial (SBT) is being carried out by the Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland. |
| Project manager Simon Jones said the release of the beaver families on Friday "went extremely well". | Project manager Simon Jones said the release of the beaver families on Friday "went extremely well". |
| "They were placed into purpose-built artificial lodges at carefully selected points around the trial site," he said. | "They were placed into purpose-built artificial lodges at carefully selected points around the trial site," he said. |
| "They will now gradually gnaw their way out of the lodge at a pace that is comfortable for them before exploring their new surroundings." | "They will now gradually gnaw their way out of the lodge at a pace that is comfortable for them before exploring their new surroundings." |
| Mr Jones said that following the release, the "real work" of the trial could now begin. | Mr Jones said that following the release, the "real work" of the trial could now begin. |
| He added: "First and foremost, this is a scientific study of how the beavers cope naturally in the Scottish environment and what effect they have upon it. | He added: "First and foremost, this is a scientific study of how the beavers cope naturally in the Scottish environment and what effect they have upon it. |
| "We will be closely tracking the beavers' activities and collecting data over the next five years to help inform the independent scientific monitoring. | "We will be closely tracking the beavers' activities and collecting data over the next five years to help inform the independent scientific monitoring. |
| 'Recklessly irresponsible' | 'Recklessly irresponsible' |
| "This will help the Scottish Government in making any final decisions on the future of beavers in Knapdale Forest or elsewhere in Scotland." | "This will help the Scottish Government in making any final decisions on the future of beavers in Knapdale Forest or elsewhere in Scotland." |
| Not everyone, however, is in favour of the reintroduction scheme. | Not everyone, however, is in favour of the reintroduction scheme. |
| Last year, the Association of Salmon Fishery Boards said it would be "recklessly irresponsible" to approve new schemes before looking at the impact on fish. | Last year, the Association of Salmon Fishery Boards said it would be "recklessly irresponsible" to approve new schemes before looking at the impact on fish. |
| Concerns were also raised by Alan Kettlewhite, a biologist with Argyll Fisheries Trust, ahead of Friday's beaver release. | Concerns were also raised by Alan Kettlewhite, a biologist with Argyll Fisheries Trust, ahead of Friday's beaver release. |
| These charismatic creatures are not only likely to create interest in Scotland from further afield but crucially can play a key role in providing good habitat for a wide range of wetland species Roseanna CunninghamEnvironment Minister | These charismatic creatures are not only likely to create interest in Scotland from further afield but crucially can play a key role in providing good habitat for a wide range of wetland species Roseanna CunninghamEnvironment Minister |
| "Potentially they can alter the habitats of fish, restricting access to spawning grounds," he said. | "Potentially they can alter the habitats of fish, restricting access to spawning grounds," he said. |
| "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 Allan Bantick, chair of the Scottish Beaver Trial, believes the programme is a step forward in "rebuilding the natural biodiversity of Scotland". | But Allan Bantick, chair of the Scottish Beaver Trial, believes the programme is a step forward in "rebuilding the natural biodiversity of Scotland". |
| "Our critics worry that beavers might pose a risk to migratory fish numbers, including salmon," he said. | "Our critics worry that beavers might pose a risk to migratory fish numbers, including salmon," he said. |
| "This has not been found to be the case anywhere else in Europe. | "This has not been found to be the case anywhere else in Europe. |
| "However, the notion cannot be tested with this trial because there is no Atlantic salmon present in the trial site. | "However, the notion cannot be tested with this trial because there is no Atlantic salmon present in the trial site. |
| 'Historic day' | 'Historic day' |
| "Our beavers will be released within a designated trial area, which should be large enough to sustain the natural expansion of their population over the next five years." | "Our beavers will be released within a designated trial area, which should be large enough to sustain the natural expansion of their population over the next five years." |
| Scotland's Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham visited the trial site in Argyll on Friday morning. | Scotland's Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham visited the trial site in Argyll on Friday morning. |
| She said the release marked "a historic day for conservation". | She said the release marked "a historic day for conservation". |
| "These charismatic creatures are not only likely to create interest in Scotland from further afield but crucially can play a key role in providing good habitat for a wide range of wetland species," she said. | "These charismatic creatures are not only likely to create interest in Scotland from further afield but crucially can play a key role in providing good habitat for a wide range of wetland species," she said. |
| The beavers are tagged to help with the monitoring of their progress | |
| "And while a great deal of research has already gone into the reintroduction, this work is far from over. | "And while a great deal of research has already gone into the reintroduction, this work is far from over. |
| "Observations and data collection over the next five years will play a crucial role in assessing the long-term future for beavers in the Scottish landscape." | "Observations and data collection over the next five years will play a crucial role in assessing the long-term future for beavers in the Scottish landscape." |
| Darren Dobson, from the Carinbaan Hotel near the release site, said he was delighted at the prospect of beavers, and hopes they will prove to be a major tourist attraction. | Darren Dobson, from the Carinbaan Hotel near the release site, said he was 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. |
| "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. |
| Monitoring programme | Monitoring programme |
| 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. |
| It is contributing £275,000 to the cost of monitoring the trial. | It 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. |
| The beavers released on Friday were captured in the Telemark region of Norway in September last year. | The beavers released on Friday were captured in the Telemark region of Norway in September last year. |
| They were flown to the UK in November and spent six months in quarantine. | They were flown to the UK in November and spent six months in quarantine. |