Beaver reserve 'could be illegal'

Published on Friday 28 October 2005 01:21

A LANDOWNER who is trying to reintroduce beavers into Britain is to be investigated by government officials after it was revealed he has no licence to release the animals into the wild.

Six Eurasian beavers were released into an enclosed reserve at the Lower Mill Estate in the Cotswold Water Park in Gloucestershire yesterday.

But the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is to investigate the programme at the estate, which is owned by Jeremy Paxton.

A DEFRA spokeswoman said there was a danger of the animals breaking out from their 14-acre enclosure, which is protected by electric fences and CCTV, and escaping into the wild.

She said: "The Eurasian beaver is not a species which is ordinarily resident in Great Britain. The 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act does not define the term 'wild' but DEFRA interprets this widely as once an animal is released from captivity it is difficult, if not impossible, to prevent its spread. Mr Paxton will therefore be committing an offence if he releases any beavers."

The maximum penalty for conviction for this offence is two years' imprisonment and an unlimited fine.

Mr Paxton's team said the project was entirely "above board".

Derek Gow, who was involved in the beavers being quarantined for six months in Devon before their release, said the animals were in an enclosure and not "in the wild".

He said: "If DEFRA want to challenge this then they can. The beavers are in a big enclosure which is protected by a large fence. There's very little chance of them escaping."