Scots aim to bring beavers back to wild
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Your support makes all the difference.Scotland's nature conservation quango will today announce that it is pursuing plans to bring the beaver and the medicinal leech back to the glens.
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) will unveil its first Species Action Programme, setting out measures to boost the numbers and prospects for 17 endangered plant and animal species. The surveying, research and land management measures involved will cost several hundred thousand pounds a year.
The beaver became extinct in Britain during the Middle Ages, due to hunters seeking its thick pelt and scent glands. SNH will ascertain the extent of good habitat - beavers prefer woodlands of willow, aspen and poplar near to deep rivers.
It will also assess what impact the return of the beaver will have on farming, forestry and other parts of the economy. SNH promises full consultation with landowners and anyone else with an interest or view.
Dr Vincent Fleming, the officer in charge of the action programme, stressed that a final decision on whether to reintroduce the species was several years off and would rest with the Government. ''Our initial impressions are favourable, but there's a long way to go,'' he said.
The organisation will be leaning heavily on the experience of other European countries which have brought back the beaver, including France, the Netherlands and Germany. About 80 beavers were released in Sweden between 1922 and 1940 and their population has now reached nearly 100,000.
SNH will emphasise that it has no intention of even considering reintroducing the wolf or the bear. Some environmentalists have been advocating their return, to the horror of farmers.
The medicinal leech, which sucks the blood of fish, amphibians and birds as well as mammals such as man, is still reared for use in plastic surgery and to produce anti-blood clotting agents. It is globally threatened in the wild and in Scotland it is known at only five sites.
One of the main causes of its decline is thought to be the loss of farm ponds, where leeches would feed on the livestock which came to drink. SNH will carry out a detailed survey to pinpoint its remaining sites and how they can be managed to conserve the species. ''We're not just in the business of conserving pleasant, cute and cuddly species,'' said Dr Fleming. ''Leeches have their place in the ecosystem too.''
The other 15 species covered by the action programme are seven rare plants, one moth, one butterfly, the vendace (a freshwater fish), red squirrel, white-tailed eagle, corncrake, red kite and marine turtle.
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