Scotland to reintroduce beavers to River Ness catchment after 500 years
Conservation organisations have been granted a licence to release up to 15 beaver families into the region over a three-year period.
Scotland's nature conservation agency, NatureScot, has granted a licence to two organisations to bring beavers back to the River Ness catchment, according to the Times of India. The organisations, Trees for Life and Beaver Trust, will work on the Ness Beaver Project.
Under the three-year initiative, the groups will relocate and release up to 15 beaver families from other parts of Scotland. These animals will be moved from areas where they are currently facing conflicts with human activities. Before their release, the beavers will undergo health checks to ensure they are suitable for relocation.
The project aims to establish a self-sustaining beaver population and restore the ecological balance of local rivers and wetlands. Beavers are considered ecosystem engineers that create habitats for fish, amphibians, insects, and birds by building dams.
Beavers were last recorded in the region around 1527. They were previously hunted for their meat, fur, and castoreum, a secretion used in perfumes and traditional medicines.
This follows a previous reintroduction attempt in 2009 through the Scottish Beaver Trial in Knapdale, Argyll. The first releases in the River Ness catchment could begin as early as November 2026.