Glen Affric, Scottish Highlands – The world-famous Glen Affric in the Scottish Highlands has become home to the first beaver kits born in over 400 years, as part of a successful reintroduction project led by rewilding charity Trees for Life and government agency Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS).
The two healthy and thriving kits were spotted in Loch Beinn a Mheadhoin, which is often described as the most beautiful loch in Scotland. These elusive creatures can be hard to spot in the wild, but they were captured on camera by wildlife cameras as part of Trees for Life’s monitoring efforts.
According to Tobias Leask, Trees for Life’s locally based Beaver Management Officer, who was able to capture footage of the kits from a canoe, “These beaver kits symbolize a wildlife success story four centuries in the making, and how nature can recover when we give it a chance.” He added, “Seeing them for the first time is something I’ll never forget. It was one of those rare moments when you realize you’re witnessing history.”
The birth of these kits follows the release of a first family of five beavers and a beaver pair at two sites on the loch in Glen Affric National Nature Reserve last October, and the release of a further family of four beavers in February. These 11 beavers were relocated under license by NatureScot from agricultural land in Tayside, following an application by FLS, which manages the 17,604-hectare reserve.
FLS and Trees for Life began work on the reintroduction initiative in 2022, supported by Beaver Trust, which played a key role in carrying out the releases. The project included extensive consultations with local communities and land managers and features strong local community volunteer involvement.
The project aims to deliver Scotland’s national beaver strategy, as well as a Scottish Government directive for public agencies to seek beaver reintroductions on state-owned land out of existing beaver range.
Dr. Roisin Campbell-Palmer, Head of Restoration at Beaver Trust, stated, “The arrival of these kits is a very encouraging indication that the beavers have settled well into their new surroundings and are establishing themselves as a healthy, breeding population.” She further added, “This achievement reflects the commitment and collaboration of everyone involved and provides further evidence that well-managed translocations can support the responsible restoration of beavers across Scotland in line with the Scottish Government’s National Beaver Strategy.”
Beavers play a crucial role in creating wetlands that benefit other wildlife, purify water, and reduce flooding. These animals can also bring economic benefits to communities through eco-tourism. However, in some cases, they can also create localized problems. The Glen Affric project partners have put in place measures to address these issues quickly, with ongoing engagement to ensure local people can enjoy and benefit from the beavers’ return.
To keep the wider community updated on the beavers’ progress, Tobias Leask has established a volunteer group of local people who monitor the beavers’ activity and how they are settling in. Nearly 30 people from the area have already joined the group, and more volunteers are welcome to join.
The Eurasian beaver, now a protected species, was once widespread in Scotland until it was hunted to extinction for its pelt, meat, and musk oil. Records suggest that beavers may have survived in small numbers until the 16th century. They were reintroduced to Scotland in 2009.
Glen Affric is home to one of the best and third-largest examples of the globally unique Caledonian forest that once covered much of the Highlands. However, it has now been reduced to less than 2% of its original extent. Trees for Life has been working with FLS and others for over 30 years to restore the forest and its native wildlife.
For more information on Trees for Life and their work, visit treesforlife.org.uk.
