Prepare to go 'awww'.
London has two new beavers (or kits, if you prefer) — born in west London, as the city's reintroduction of the cute 'n' toothy critters continues to bear fruit.
In October 2023, a family of five Eurasian beavers were released at Paradise Fields, an urban wetland in Greenford, as part of the Ealing Beaver Project, which is supported by the Mayor of London. Two babies were born this spring, and have recently emerged outside the Paradise Fields lodge. Here's a video:
Strictly speaking, these are not quite the first beavers to be born in London in 400 years; that honour goes to this one in Enfield, last September. However, the Ealing Beaver Project is calling its two the first beavers to be born in 'urban' London (that is, in a small oasis just 25 metres from the closest businesses and houses — not to mention a stone's throw from Greenford tube station). What's more, Paradise Fields is a public (and accessible) space, meaning anyone can visit and and try to glimpse the beavers.
Says the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan: "I am delighted that baby beavers have been born in west London. Beavers are nature's environmental engineers and it's very encouraging to see what a positive change they’ve already had for local communities and nature as we build a fairer, greener city for all Londoners."
