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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. The Scottish Beaver Trial (SBT) is being carried out by the Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland.
He said: "I think this is a hugely exciting move and one in which we've got to take people with us. Project manager Simon Jones said the release of the beaver families on Friday "went extremely well".
The beavers are tagged to help with the monitoring of their progress "They were placed into purpose-built artificial lodges at carefully selected points around the trial site," he said.
"There's never been a reintroduction of a mammal back to the UK. "They will now gradually gnaw their way out of the lodge at a pace that is comfortable for them before exploring their new surroundings."
"We've done the red kite and the sea eagle - they've gone pretty well - people are now behind that. Mr Jones said that following the release, the "real work" of the trial could now begin.
"We've got to try to do this reintroduction of a mammal in a very scientific careful and monitored way." 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.
But not everyone has been behind the scheme. "We will be closely tracking the beavers' activities and collecting data over the next five years to help inform the independent scientific monitoring.
Alan Kettlewhite, a biologist with Argyll Fisheries Trust, said: "Potentially they can alter the habitats of fish, restricting access to spawning grounds. '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."
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.
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
"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 SNH's Colin Galbraith said he felt a duty towards the beavers. But Allan Bantick, chair of the Scottish Beaver Trial, believes the programme is a step forward in "rebuilding the natural biodiversity of Scotland".
"For me the argument is very simple. They were here - we killed them out. I think we've got the moral obligation to bring them back," he said. "Our critics worry that beavers might pose a risk to migratory fish numbers, including salmon," he said.
Continuously tested "This has not been found to be the case anywhere else in Europe.
Project officer Jenny Holden said: "The main things people are concerned about are giardia and cryptosporidium. "However, the notion cannot be tested with this trial because there is no Atlantic salmon present in the trial site.
"They are bacteria that can infect the guts of humans and make you feel really quite unwell - food-poisoning type bugs. 'Historic day'
"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. "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.
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.
The beavers were captured in Norway and brought to Argyll for releaseThe beavers were captured in Norway and brought to Argyll for release
"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." "And while a great deal of research has already gone into the reintroduction, this work is far from over.
Darren Dobson is from the Carinbaan Hotel near the release site. "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."
He is 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
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. 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.
They were flown to the UK in November and spent six months in quarantine.