There is good news, as Beavers in Devon are allowed to stay in Devon!
The UK government has said that Beavers living within Devon are allowed to stay in their home after a successful trial run over the last 5 years in Devon, England.
They government has said that the reintroduction of Beavers has been a success and the trial period over the last 5 years has been successfully completed.
Where Was The Trial For Beavers?
The trial for Beavers over the last five years has been within the River Otter in Devon, England.
The River Otter is in the county of Somerset. It is just outside a village called and is within a range of hills known as the Blackdown Hills. The trial of the Beavers began there in 2015.
The Trial Of The River Otter Beavers
Beavers have started being re-introduced into the UK after the animals have been extinct for hundreds of years on the British Isles.
They became extinct during the 16th century.
Beavers went extinct for a combination of reasons. The main reason that Beavers became extinct was because they were hunted. There was several different reasons as to why Beavers were hunted to extinction, namely it was due to being hunted for food, medicine and fur.
Before their extinction on the British Isles, Beavers used to be found throughout England, Scotland and Wales. This has resulted in Beavers being absent from the British countryside for hundreds of years, up until very recently, when the re-introduction of Beavers began just a few years ago.
The re-introduction of Beavers on the British Isles began in England in 2001, when two Beaver families were released in Kent, this is known as the 'Ham Fen Beaver Project' of Kent. Eight years later, Scotland began its own Beaver trial known as 'The Scottish Beaver Trial'.
Many other Beaver trials have began since then.
The Beaver trial since the Scottish trial began, hasn't been going as well though. Beavers in Scotland were given protected status by the Scottish government in 2019, however, since the law has been introduced by the Scottish government, the Beavers haven't been given the legal protection that they were promised in Scotland, as 87 Beavers were killed in 2019 and at least 100 Beavers have been shot in Scotland in 2020 so far.
Wildlife conservationists have condemned the killing of Beavers in Scotland. They are right to do so, killing a species that is supposed to be protected in Scottish law makes the law seem like it's just there for show, rather than it being there to protect these animals.
The Scottish government gave lisences for the Beavers to be killed, after, they passed a law that was supposed to protect Beavers. Imagine a government said that it was protecting Tigers and passed a law protecting Tigers, then after that went on to give lisences to people for Tigers to be shot, would we think that the governments promise to protect Tigers was serious? Probably not. Would we think that the legislation written to protect Tigers was worth the paper it was written on? Probably not. Therefore, the same can be said about the legislation passed for Beavers.
To successfully re-introduce and conserve wildlife, we have to really protect them. Protective our wildlife means protecting them from being killed and preserving their habitats.
The Benefits Of Preserving Wildlife
There are a wide-range of benefits that we all gain from preserving and restoring wildlife and the natural world. The natural world helps benefit our mental health and can help with mental health problems like anxiety and depression. There are also other health benefits to spending time in nature, such as lowering stress and blood preassure.
Spending time in nature also helps us in other ways. Spending time in nature also helps us in other ways, these other ways include making us happier, kinder and more creative.
Therefore, helping to preserve the natural world and the animals within it, not only helps animals, it also helps us too and gives us a wide range of positive benefits.
The UK government found that preserving the Beavers in the River Otter brought benefits.
They said:
''The five-year trial has bought a wealth of benefits to the local area and ecology, including enhancing the environment at a local wildlife site, creating wetland habitat and reducing flood risk for housing downstream.
They will now be allowed to remain there permanently and continue to expand their range naturally, finding new areas to settle as they need.''
The news from the UK government that Beavers are allowed to stay in Devon and that their trial over the last five years is welcoming and positive news for these cute animals!
The news that the Beavers will be allowed to expand their range and find new areas is also welcoming and positive news for these cute animals.
Rewilding Britain can help restore or recreate healthy ecosystems in Britain. It can also help to create a healthier environment and tackle climate change. Alongside giving places for animals to live; while flora can thrive too. While also giving us spaces where we can reconnect with nature, bringing all the positive benefits it can give to us.
If you want to read more about the success of Devon's Beavers, go - here!
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