Scotland welcomes back the beaver
Friday 29th May 2009
The Scottish Beaver Trial (SBT), a partnership project run by Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT), the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) and host partner Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS), officially begins today (Friday 29th May) as the first beavers to live in Scotland for over 400 years are released into the wild.
Marking the first formal reintroduction of a native mammal species into the wild in the UK, three beaver families have now been released at carefully selected sites in Knapdale Forest, Mid-Argyll. The beavers, originally from Norway, have been chosen because they are considered to be the closest type to those once found in the UK and have all completed a six-month statutory quarantine period.
Minister for the Environment, Roseanna Cunningham, arrived at the trial site this morning to show her support for the landmark project, and assisted with the release of one of the family groups.
Roseanna Cunningham said: "Welcoming beavers back to Scotland marks a historic day for conservation, and it is particularly apt they are returning in this, the year of Homecoming.
"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.
"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."
The release is for a time-limited trial period and comes after years of lobbying by ecologists and conservation experts who believe that the beaver has been a missing part of our wetland eco-systems since being hunted to extinction in the 16th Century. The trial is mostly funded thanks to private donations and grants, including up to £1 million from Biffaward and support from People's Postcode Lottery and People's Trust for Endangered Species.
Allan Bantick, Chairman of SWT and Chair of the Scottish Beaver Trial partnership, said: "The release of the beavers today means that we are one step closer to rebuilding the natural biodiversity of Scotland. Beavers are a native species made extinct by man and we are hoping that our trial reintroduction is a step towards seeing this corrected. Beavers are a species worth having in any ecosystem as their presence is known to bring a vast number of benefits to other native Scottish wildlife as well as wetland and waterside habitats. Our reintroduction follows in the footsteps of 24 other European countries, who have already reintroduced beavers to over 150 different sites.
"Our critics' worry that beavers might pose a risk to migratory fish numbers, including salmon. 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. 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.
"It is vital that our project is recognised as a time-limited trial with the purpose of assessing the effect beavers have on the local environment and how well they settle into their new habitat here in Scotland."
Scottish Beaver Trial Project Manager, Simon Jones, said: "The release of the beaver families went extremely well. They were placed into purpose-built artificial lodges at carefully selected points around the trial site. They will now gradually gnaw their way out of the lodge at a pace that is comfortable for them before exploring their new surroundings.
"Now that our beavers have been released into the wild, the real work of our trial can begin. 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, co-ordinated by Scottish Natural Heritage. This will help the Scottish Government in making any final decisions on the future of beavers in Knapdale Forest or elsewhere in Scotland.
"We will also be continuing to engage with the local community as well as trying to inspire Scots to support this exciting conservation project. We hope to see many people visiting the trial site over time, but the beavers do need time to settle in before meeting the neighbours.
"Visitors will stand a better chance of seeing beaver signs, and maybe even some beavers, by waiting a few months to make their trip to the trial site. By timing your visit in the early morning or early evening, you will have the best chance of spotting these intriguing animals in the wild."
FCS is the host partner of the Scottish Beaver Trial and believes that Knapdale Forest is an ideal location to carry out the project as it covers a range of important habitats and biodiversity. The trial area is also in the heart of a forest which produces timber and provides recreational facilities for people, making it a suitable place to explore how beavers co-exist with forestry operations and the environment.
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is the independent body tasked by the Scottish Government to co-ordinate the scientific monitoring of the trial. SNH will report to the Scottish Government at the end of the trial period and a decision can then be made on the future of the beavers in Knapdale Forest and elsewhere in Scotland.
The Scottish Government approved a licence for the release of the beaver families in Knapdale Forest in May 2008, following a two-month long public consultation which showed that 73% of respondents were in favour of the trial.
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Photography and film footage availability
We have many high resolution images of excellent quality of the beaver release, including shots of the Minister releasing the final family.
There is also high resolution digital film footage available, which is available in a broadcast quality format as well as for web use.
If you have not already received a copy of the broadcast quality footage of the beaver release, or if you are experiencing problems with your copy, please try downloading from the following FTP site: www.m8media.co.uk. When there, click on the client area and type in username ‘wildlife' and password ‘wildlife.' If you have any other problems please get in touch with the contacts below.
To request images or if you would like footage for web use, please contact:
Amanda Alabaster, Communications Consultant, SWT
Tel: 0131 312 or email aalabaster@swt.org.uk
Claire Connachan, Marketing Assistant, RZSS
Tel: 0131 314 0311 or email cconnachan@rzss.org.uk
Interview Requests
Please note that the majority of spokespersons are in Knapdale. A satellite telephone is available to allow spokespersons in Knapdale to conduct telephone interviews (number below). The following representatives are available from the site:
Simon Jones, SBT Project Manager
Jenny Holden, SBT Field Officer
Allan Bantick, Chair of SBT steering group
Douglas Richardson, Animal Collection Manager, Highland Wildlife Park
Alan Stevenson, Forestry Commission Scotland
Colin Galbraith, Scottish Natural Heritage
To arrange an interview with any of the following via telephone or in advance of your arrival at Knapdale, please contact the Scottish Beaver Trial Press Team on 0088 163164 6325
Alternatively, you can try:
Nicola McGovern, PR Officer, SWT
Tel: 07827 248 117
Email (Blackberry): nmcgovern@swt.org.uk
Please note that reception in Knapdale can be patchy, if you fail to get a response please contact our office-based contacts below.
The following representatives are also available for interview in the Edinburgh area:
David Windmill, Chief Executive, RZSS
Simon Milne, Chief Executive, SWT
To arrange an interview, please contact:
Claire Connachan, Marketing Assistant, RZSS
Tel: 0131 314 0311 or email cconnachan@rzss.org.uk
Amanda Alabaster, Communications Consultant, SWT
Tel: 0131 312 4744 or email aalabaster@swt.org.uk
Notes to Editors
- The Scottish Beaver Trial is a partnership project between the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, the Scottish Wildlife Trust and host Forestry Commission Scotland to undertake a time-limited trial reintroduction of the European beavers to Knapdale, Mid-Argyll. It is part of Scotland's Species Action Framework, which sets out a strategic approach to species management in Scotland. The Scottish Government has asked Scottish Natural Heritage to coordinate the independent scientific monitoring of the trial, reporting on whether the conditions of the licence are being fully addressed on the ground. For more information visit www.scottishbeavers.org.uk
- The Scottish Government approved the application of the trial reintroduction in May 2008. This followed a two-month long consultation period with local residents and key stakeholders. The results of this consultation showed that 73% of respondents were in favour of the trial reintroduction.
- Forestry Commission Scotland manages the trial site of Knapdale Forest as part of the national forest estate. Forestry Commission Scotland serves as the Scottish Government's forestry directorate and is responsible for the protection and expansion of Scotland's forests and woodlands. FCS manages the national forest estate for a range of public benefits – economic, social and environmental. It works closely with a range of national and local stakeholders and partners to deliver the Scottish Government's goals vested in the Scottish Forestry Strategy.
- Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park are owned by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), a registered charity, number SC004064. RZSS was founded by visionary lawyer Thomas Gillespie. The Society was set up 'to promote, facilitate and encourage the study of zoology and kindred subjects and to foster and develop amongst the people an interest in and knowledge of animal life'. RZSS has been involved in several successful species reintroduction programmes in the past. These include native species, such as the Canna mouse, as well as global initiatives including reintroducing the Socorro dove back to the Socorro Islands, off the Mexican coast.
- The Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) is a registered charity. It is the largest voluntary body working for all the wildlife of Scotland, representing more than 33,000 members who care for wildlife and the environment. SWT seeks to raise public awareness of threatened habitats and species and manages over 120 wildlife reserves Scotland-wide. www.swt.org.uk
- Scottish Natural Heritage advises the Scottish Government on conserving, enjoying, understanding and sustainably using our natural heritage. For further information on SNH, please visit www.snh.org.uk
- Funding for the Scottish Beaver Trial has been gratefully received from Biffaward.
- In 1997 Biffa Waste Services agreed to donate landfill tax credits to the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT) to administer under the fund name Biffaward. Grants made from the fund currently amount to £100 million, supporting many worthwhile projects. Biffa Waste Services Limited is one of the largest single suppliers of waste management services in the UK. It collects, treats, recovers and disposes of municipal, commercial and industrial waste nationwide. It is ultimately owned by a private equity consortium comprising Montagu Private Equity, Global Infrastructure Partners, Uberior Co-Investments Limited and other co-investors www.biffaward.org
- The project has also received financial support from a range of sources including the People's Trust for Endangered Species, People's Postcode Lottery, the John Ellerman Foundation and the Albert George & Nancy Caroline Youngman Trust.
