Newborn beavers get a royal visit

SCOTLAND'S first beaver cubs born in the wild for centuries are set to receive a royal visitor.

As patron of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, Princess Anne will head for the Scottish Beaver Trial at Knapdale Loch in Argyll on 8 September. News of her visit comes only days after the first kitts born in the wild since their re-introduction to the UK were spotted.

A total of 11 animals were brought to Scotland from Norway last year as part of the Scottish Beaver Trial.

Beavers were hunted to extinction in the UK 400 years ago. But their reintroduction has been controversial with landowners claiming they will damage woodland and anglers - including ex-England star Sir Ian Botham - saying they will hit fish stocks.