First beaver kits in 400 years born in the wild at Cairngorms National Park
A beaver project is ongoing within Scotland's largest national park, which is aiming to re-establish the species in the region.
Wednesday 7 August 2024 18:32, UK
Beaver kits have been born in the wild within Cairngorms National Park for the first time in more than 400 years.
The pair were born to two of the six families relocated to the upper River Spey catchment as part of efforts to re-establish the species in the area.
Conservation campaigners hope the beavers will boost biodiversity and enhance the region's ecosystems in the ongoing battle to reduce the impacts of climate change.
A study of a community of beavers in England's River Otter found they could reduce flooding for some at-risk homes, create wetlands for other animals, improve water quality and even boost local tourism.
The Cairngorms National Park Authority announced the big news on Wednesday, saying it was an "exciting milestone" in the project.
The first kit was born to a pair of beavers that were released to Wildland Cairngorms Ltd, while the second kit is with a beaver family on Rothiemurchus.
Sarah Henshall, head of conservation, said: "There are also encouraging signs of breeding behaviour at other locations - including evidence of them busily expanding their lodges - so we are hopeful that there will be more kits to come."
Some 400 years ago, the species was driven to extinction in the Cairngorms, which covers parts of Aberdeenshire, Moray, Highland, Angus, as well as Perth and Kinross.
They were hunted for their fur and scent glands that produce a substance called castoreum, which was used for perfumes and medicine.
An initial reintroduction trial of beavers at Knapdale in Argyll and Bute began in 2009 and populations are now established there and in Tayside, on the Forth, at Loch Lomond, and also in several locations elsewhere in the UK.
Now in its second year, up to 15 beaver families could be relocated to the upper River Spey area within Scotland's largest national park over the project's five years.
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Ms Henshall said there has been "extensive engagement" with the "agricultural community, fishing interests, the public and other key stakeholders".
Jenny Bryce, NatureScot's beaver team manager, said the Scottish government agency is "committed to helping solve any issues that might arise as the beavers settle into their new homes".
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Dr Roisin Campbell-Palmer, head of restoration at Beaver Trust, said the project has developed a "robust monitoring and mitigation plan" that is specific to the Cairngorms and goes "above and beyond" the national scheme.
She added: "The successful birth of a kit is what all the partners on this project have been hoping for this summer.
"With any translocation of a species there are no guarantees that the animals will settle, so for two pairs to have bred successfully proves the work that has gone into identifying suitable habitat and locations has been worthwhile."