The board of Natural England is being urged by Friends of the Earth to allow Devon’s beavers to remain in the wild, when it meets today [Wednesday 28 January 2015] to discuss the issue.
The board is due to consider an application by the Devon Wildlife Trust for the managed release into the wild of beavers currently resident in the River Otter. This will allow the animals to be released back into the wild after they have been captured and tested for the rare Echinococcus multilocularis parasite.
In October 2014 Friends of the Earth launched a legal challenge against the Government’s plans to put the animals in captivity, arguing that Britain was part of the beavers’ natural range – and therefore protected by European law. The challenge is still pending.
The fact that Natural England is being allowed to make this decision represents a significant victory for the campaign, and comes after documents obtained by Friends of the Earth under the Freedom of Information Act showed that the risk from disease was considered to be ‘not significant’.
There has been widespread national and local support for the beavers to remain in the wild. Over 10,000 people sent messages to the Minister for natural environment, and at a recent event in the village of Ottery St. Mary more than 100 people turned up, the vast majority in support of the beavers.
Friends of the Earth campaigner Alasdair Cameron said:
“Beavers are a fantastic addition to the British countryside. Natural England must look at the evidence, listen to the overwhelming public support and allow Devon’s beavers to remain in the wild.
“These are wonderful animals that bring huge benefits to our countryside. We should be thrilled beavers are back, and not looking for reasons to get rid of them.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
1. Background
A group of beavers has been living in the wild on the river Ottery in Devon for some time – possibly a number of years. Last year the government revealed that it intended to capture the beavers – to test for disease – and remove them from the wild. This has yet to happen.
Devon Wildlife Trust has subsequently submitted an application for the managed release of the beavers into the wild – provided they are of Eurasian origin and are free of the Echinococcus multilocularis parasite. The board of Natural England is meeting to consider the application at its next meeting on 28 January 2015.
2. Friends of the Earth can provide more information on the Devon beavers, including contacts for filming them.
3. Friends of the Earth launched a legal challenge to plans to remove Devon Beaver from the wild in October 2014.
4. Beaver facts:
• Beavers were once widespread in Britain and were found all over the island before being hunted to extinction. The last possible reference to a wild beaver in England comes from 1789, although they had become rare by the 1500s.
• So far there have been 157 reintroductions in Europe. Beavers are now present in around 30 countries, including Belgium, Netherlands and Denmark.
• Natural England has previously supported the aim of reintroducing beavers into England, and published a report saying this in 2009.
• The European Habitats Directive makes it clear that beavers are a protected species when in their natural range.
For press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.
