Good news for all our friends at Save the Free Beavers of the River Tay!
A decision to trap escaped beavers living on the River Tay has been reversed by government ministers. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) ordered 16 months ago that any beavers on the Tay should be captured and “rehomed” at Edinburgh Zoo. But the Scottish government said a decision on their future would now be postponed until 2015.
That’s right! No zoos or culls for the scrappy D-I-Y beavers who scoffed at the fancy knapdale reintroduction and made a plucky go of it on their own! The minister just announced this morning that they’re safe until 2015. Gentle-gentry heroes Paul and Louise Ramsay rallied an awesome multi-disciplinary and internationally-voiced team of supporters, and in the end the ministry decided it was harder work to convince all those people that they needed to track and remove all the unintended beavers than it was to simply keep an eye on them. Now he’s recommended they use science to keep thinking about their impact!
The entire story is told properly on Radio Scotland here starting at 2:20. But the broadcast was recently put forth by Peter Smith using photos from the group’s facebook page. There’s a couple you should particularly enjoy!
Because we are the most timely beaver broadcast network on the planet (what makes me so sure? Well chiefly because we’re the ONLY beaver broadcast network….at the moment…I expect grand new developments will follow!) this sunday’s interview will be with beaver hero Paul Ramsay! How timely is THAT? Don’t miss the rousing tale of castor fiber activism in the Highlands!
Congratulations Paul and Louise and all our friends at Save the Free Beavers of the River Tay. Your best problem ever comes next: choosing a new name!