Orphaned beavers released in rewilding project

The male and female were rescued from culling in Scotland

Two orphaned beavers have been given a new home in a rewilding enclosure in Devon.

The male and female, who were rescued from culling in Scotland, have been settling in at Poole Farm, Plymouth, for four weeks and have already begun to transform the landscape.

This is the second time that beavers have been introduced to Poole Farm, after a previous pair escaped due to storm damage and one was killed by a car.

Plymouth City Council said it had since reinforced the enclosure to prevent further incidents.

The project will monitor the beavers' impact on the Bircham Valley

The beavers are part of the Green Minds project, a council initiative that aims to create urban wild spaces and connect people with nature.

The animals spent a few months at the Cornwall Seal Sanctuary before being released.

Roisin Campbell-Palmer, head of restoration at the Beaver Trust, said: "We are excited to support this urban beaver project, which offers an opportunity to showcase how beavers can work alongside people in a city setting."

The beavers are among the few wild populations of the species in the UK, after they were hunted to extinction in the 16th Century.

The beavers are part of the Green Minds project, a Plymouth City Council initiative

The released beavers’ behaviour and changes they make to the landscape will be monitored to show how their actions can reduce flooding further downstream and create habitats for wildlife in the Bircham Valley.

Matt Holden, Devon beaver project lead at the Devon Wildlife Trust, said: "This is an exciting development for Plymouth and we look forward to observing the increase in wildlife that the presence of beavers should bring across the site."