Guest guest Posted October 27, 2005 Report Share Posted October 27, 2005 First wild beavers for 500 years Beavers were hunted to extinction for their fur Beavers are being reintroduced to the UK, 500 years after they were hunted to extinction for their fur. Six European beavers are to be released at Lower Mill Estate near South Cerney, Gloucestershire, and will be the first to roam wild in the UK for centuries. The six adult rodents were caught in Bavaria in the spring and have spent the last few months in quarantine. If the pioneering scheme is successful, it is hoped beavers can once again thrive in the British countryside. Although the animals will be confined to a 500-acre site to start with, experts hope to remove the fences once the beavers have settled in so they can roam freely. The beaver was hunted to extinction for its fur and the pain- relieving properties of its anal gland secretions. Whereas, the American beaver can be destructive, environmentalists say the European species should be a force for good in the countryside. It is vegetarian so it should not deplete fish stocks in rivers and the beavers could also help keep waterways clear of debris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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