THE ROYAL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND - Edinburgh Zoo

8
Conservation
Beaver reintroduction
It’s not often we can say that we made
history, but in 2009 we were able to do
just that. After an absence of 400 years, the
first beavers were released on a five-year
trial basis into the wild at Knapdale in Mid
Argyll. This marked the first ever formal
reintroduction of a mammal to Britain.
ANNUAL REVIEW • 2009 • THE ROYAL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND
The Scottish Beaver Trial, a partnership between RZSS, Scottish Wildlife
Trust and host partner Forestry Commission Scotland, began work on
the complex process of preparing for the reintroduction in 2007. This
included local consultations, the securing of the reintroduction licence and
extensive work to source, transport and quarantine the beavers.
Now that the beavers are in situ, our task over the next five years is
to closely monitor their activities. Tracking is essential not only for animal
welfare requirements but also provides important data on the impact
these beavers have on the environment. This information, along with
independent monitoring coordinated by Scottish Natural Heritage, will
be submitted to the Scottish Government in 2014. They will then decide
whether beavers will remain in the wild in Scotland. The whereabouts of
the beavers is also an important public and PR issue.
As beavers are shy, crepuscular animals and spend the majority of
their time in the water, they can be difficult to spot. The large trial area
also presents problems for tracking by sight alone so a variety of tracking
methods are employed including radio and satellite tagging. Happily, the
beavers have been relatively easy to spot in the first six months. Visual
observations are reassuring as they provide first-hand data on their
behaviour, as well as their locations.
Field signs including small-scale tree felling and feeding stations were
recorded shortly after release. Dams were spotted in July and towards
the end of the year the first beaver lodge was discovered, a positive sign
of settling.
As with many of the Society’s projects, we rely on volunteers to help
with field work and luckily there has been no shortage of offers. Training
volunteers and general education about the Trial continues to be a very
important element. Interpretation and information is available at each loch
and we regularly interact with the local community. Although an estimated
10 million people learned about the Trial through media coverage, we still
have work to do to promote the Trial and to highlight the benefits beavers
can offer to our ecosystem. Funding presents a major challenge for the
next five years.
The Trial has already had its share of challenges but this is a part of
the process. It is an experiment and an opportunity to learn. England and
Wales are currently considering similar trials and our data and evaluations
will be invaluable in helping to inform their planning.
Opposite page top: Knapdale Forest; beaver tracking; signs of
regeneration and beaver lodge