If you hate beavers, you’re sorely misguided
The beaver is a key eco-systems engineer, writes Donnachadh McCarthy
In the middle of Liz Truss’s declaration of war on the scraps of nature left in Britain, this week marked a positive milestone for regeneration efforts.
From 1 October, the Eurasian beaver has been given protected native species status, following successful reintroductions over the last 20 years by various groups and individuals, into a small number of river basins. This follows its total UK extermination in the 17th century.
The beaver faced similar obliteration across mainland Europe due to the value of its fur and castoreum gland secretions, the latter of which was in great demand for perfumes.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies