Wild beaver kits born in Devon’s River Otter
A wild beaver which is due to be taken into captivity has given birth to three young. Two adult beavers, one juvenile and the three young, known as kits, are now believed to be living on the River Otter in Devon.
The government had said the beavers would be rehomed, as they could be carrying a disease.
But wildlife campaigners said they hoped to get permission for them to stay. Sightings of the animals in the River Otter were believed to be the first of their kind for centuries.
What great timing! This whole escapade has a perfectly timed campaign-air to it. First make international news everywhere by getting a farmer to film beavers for the first time in centuries and then – just when DEFRA has argued that they need to be taken to the zoo, release video of the new KITS. Which will go viral very quickly. I can’t embed it but click on the photo to go to the BBC site and see for yourself.
I feel like this could mean something – not for DEFRA obviously because they’re soulless badger killers, but for the public campaign to tie DEFRA’s hands. If I were an English beaver supporter I’d put this footage EVERYWHERE and install 5 more cameras to get more adorable glimpses into beaver life.
I think at the moment the scoreboard looks like this.
Seems DEFRA hasn’t forgotten it’s sinister lines yet…
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs said the animals could be carrying a disease “not currently present in the UK”.
“We are taking precautionary action by testing the beavers,” a spokesman said.
“This will be done with their welfare in mind.”
He added the department would wait until the kits were a suitable age before testing them.
