Overview
- A family of six beavers was released on Dundreggan estate in the Loch Ness catchment after being moved from Tayside and observed exploring and settling into a lochan on Wednesday.
- NatureScot licensed the transfer and the animals underwent veterinary health checks at the specialist holding unit at Five Sisters Zoo before release.
- The release launches the Ness Beaver Project, a joint Trees for Life and Beaver Trust scheme that plans to introduce at least 15 family groups to the catchment over the next three years.
- Organisers say beavers will act as ecosystem engineers by building dams and channels that restore wetlands, help wildlife, and change local water flow with potential benefits for flooding and drought management.
- The charities plan guided tours once the animals have settled and say careful, phased releases aim to limit conflicts with landowners after previous problems in Tayside where beavers affected farms.