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Victory for Devon beavers

news release

Beavers living in the River Otter will be allowed to remain in the wild after they have been tested for disease, following a historic decision by Natural England to issue a licence to ‘re-introduce’ the under-threat animals.

The move is a huge success for local people who want the beavers to remain in the River Otter and organisations such as the Devon Wildlife Trust (who will manage the re-introduction programme) and Friends of the Earth, which had started legal proceedings over Government plans to remove them from the wild.

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 the 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:

“This is great news for Devon’s beavers.  If, as seems likely, they can now remain in the wild, it will be a major victory for common sense and everyone who has campaigned on their behalf.

“Beavers add to Britain’s rich natural heritage and can bring huge benefits to the local environment, such as boosting wildlife and reducing flooding risks.

“Thanks to the hard work of thousands of individuals and organisations, our number of native species just increased by one. The next stage is to get the beavers tested and then returned to the River Otter where they can now swim in peace.”

“Hopefully we’ll now see renewed efforts to reintroduce beavers to other suitable locations right across the country.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

  1. Today’s decision by Natural England should pave the way for Devon’s beavers to be returned to the wild, provided they are disease-free. However, Friends of the Earth has yet to see details of what has been agreed.
  2. Beavers were once common right across Britain before being hunted to extinction several hundred years ago. In recent years they have been returned to Scotland, and have been seen living and breeding in Devon. The exact origin of the Devon beavers is unknown, but they are thought to have escaped from local breeding centres and met up in the wild.
  3. Last year the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs set out plans to capture the beavers to test them for disease and then place them into captivity. Friends of the Earth has never objected to the testing – but has campaigned for the beavers to be returned to the River Otter – if disease-free – afterwards.
  4. Friends of the Earth launched a legal challenge to plans to remove Devon Beaver from the wild in October 2014. See here and here.
  5. 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.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust

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