Beavers killed to protect land

Land managers killed 87 beavers last year despite a Scottish Government promise to move them to a new home instead.

Conservationists managed to move five beavers to a location in Scotland and 26 to sites in England and Wales.

Two beavers died while trapped due to “preexisting injuries”.

The 120 beavers in total make up around 10% of the beaver population in Scotland.

Land managers killed 115 animals in 2020, meaning 28 fewer deaths in 2021.

In August last year, the SNP and the Greens pledged to move beavers, rather than allow them to be killed.

Biodiversity Minister Lorna Slater said reintroducing beavers to Scotland is a “major nature restoration milestone”.

“Following the Scottish Government’s decision last year to actively support the expansion of the beaver population, I want to continue to see greater use of translocation and other mitigation measures to ensure that people and beavers can live side by side.

“We will therefore continue to encourage conversations between land managers and NatureScot to facilitate translocation and help to expand beaver numbers across the country.”

Ministers granted beavers protection status in 2019. Land managers, therefore, need a licence to remove or destroy them.

NatureScot typically grants a licence if beavers are damaging farm land or protected trees.

Conservationists moved some of the beavers from Tayside to London.

Robbie Kernahan, the green economy director at NatureScot, said the proportion of beavers trapped and moved last year increased to 28% from 15% in 2019.

He said: “Beavers can play an important role in helping to restore biodiversity and respond to the climate emergency in Scotland. We aim to see further releases into new catchments this year.”

NatureScot said in a statement that the figures for 2021 do not reflect its relocation policy, as that comes into effect this summer.

A spokesperson said the agency is “accelerating preparations”.

Officials are also developing a national beaver strategy.

NEW HOME: A beaver is released as part of Scotland’s translocation policy.