By Fatma Younis
For the first time in five centuries, beavers have returned to the Loch Ness catchment in the Scottish Highlands after a family of six was released on Wednesday at a lochan on the Dundreggan rewilding estate.
Relocation from Tayside
The animals, comprising a mother, two two-year-old juveniles, and three kits born this year, were captured in Tayside where they had caused difficulties for farmers. They underwent health screening at Five Sisters Zoo before being transported to Glenmoriston under licence from NatureScot.
Emotional Homecoming
Steve Micklewright, chief executive of Trees for Life, described watching the beavers enter the water as a "very beautiful thing to see." He noted the family appeared settled immediately, with the kits grooming each other on the loch side.
Ness Beaver Project Launched
The release marks the start of the Ness Beaver Project, a joint initiative between Trees for Life and the Beaver Trust aiming to introduce at least 15 beaver families to the catchment over three years. Dr Roisin Campbell-Palmer, head of restoration at the Beaver Trust, said the extensive woodland offers real opportunities for the animals to thrive.
Ecological and Economic Benefits
Alan McDonnell, Trees for Life’s head of nature restoration, called the beaver's return one of Britain's biggest rewilding success stories. Conservationists expect the beavers to revitalise river networks, mitigate flooding and drought, and boost eco-tourism, with guided tours planned once the family settles.
