By Basant El-Faramawy
For the first time in five centuries, beavers have returned to the Loch Ness catchment after a family of six was released on Wednesday at a lochan on the Dundreggan estate in Glenmoriston. The 10,000-acre rewilding property is managed by the charity Trees for Life under licence from NatureScot.
Family of six relocated from Tayside
The group comprises a mother, two two-year-old juveniles, and three kits born earlier this year. They were originally captured in Tayside, where they had been creating difficulties for local farmers, before undergoing health screening at a specialist facility at Five Sisters Zoo near West Calder.
Steve Micklewright, chief executive of Trees for Life, described watching the animals return to their native habitat as a "very beautiful thing to see." He noted the beavers entered the water immediately, appeared "very settled," and were observed grooming each other – a sign they are adapting well.
Ness Beaver Project launches
The release marks the beginning of the Ness Beaver Project, a joint initiative between Trees for Life and the Beaver Trust that aims to introduce at least 15 beaver families to the Loch Ness catchment over the next three years. The charities hailed the initial release as a "major milestone for nature recovery in Britain."
Dr Roisin Campbell-Palmer, head of restoration at Beaver Trust, said the extensive woodland at Dundreggan offers real opportunities for the animals to thrive and bring lasting biodiversity benefits. Alan McDonnell, Trees for Life's head of nature restoration, called the species' wider return one of the country's "biggest rewilding success stories," highlighting beavers' role in creating wetlands, boosting biodiversity, and mitigating flooding, drought, and wildfires.
Future releases will be announced only after animals are safely in place to ensure they can adapt without disturbance. Once the family has settled, Trees for Life intends to run guided tours to offer visitors a firsthand look at the animals and their landscape restoration work.
