Seven beavers have been released into a Scottish nature reserve for the first time in 400 years. The reintroduction of the species to Glen Affric National Nature Reserve in the north-west Highlands aims to restore connected populations of the animals, which were hunted to extinction in Britain four centuries ago. The beavers include a family of five and another pair, released at two locations along the five-mile-long Loch Beinn a’ Mheadhoin within the reserve in Invernesshire. They were relocated under licence from farmland in Tayside.
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The team behind the project – Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) and Trees for Life – stated that the beavers’ behaviours are expected to have a positive impact on the landscape and biodiversity. Beavers create wetlands that benefit other wildlife, purify water, and reduce flooding. The animals also bring economic advantages to communities through eco-tourism. Steve Micklewright, Trees for Life’s chief executive, said the release marked “a moment of wildlife history, offering hope for tackling the nature and climate emergencies and a better future for biodiversity and people.”
FLS North Region manager Alex McLeod emphasised the importance of community engagement. “Translocating beavers to Glen Affric is the culmination of a long and thorough process for FLS and Trees for Life. Engaging fully with local communities, including through detailed consultations, has ensured all voices were heard. This high level of consultation has helped us establish processes to discuss mitigation where necessary and address concerns from those not in favour of beaver introductions. We are setting up a group to oversee ongoing monitoring to inform management decisions, and I hope the beavers eventually become an integral, unremarked part of Glen Affric.”
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The reintroduction supports Scotland’s national beaver strategy, which encourages population expansion, and a Scottish Government directive urging public agencies to seek reintroductions on state-owned land outside existing beaver range. Glen Affric, regarded as one of Scotland’s most scenic glens, hosts the country’s third-largest expanse of ancient Caledonian pinewoods, along with lochs, moorland, and mountains. Dr Roisin Campbell-Palmer, head of restoration at the Beaver Trust, said: “Beavers are a powerful ally in addressing the biodiversity crisis, and we are delighted to carry out this reintroduction in one of Scotland’s most famous glens. Each new catchment we restore brings Scotland closer to its 2045 goal of a nature-rich, resilient future.”
