A family of five beavers has been released into west London — becoming the first wild beavers in this part of capital in 400 years.
The creatures were once abundant in England, but were hunted to extinction and used for their pelts, castoreum and meat. It's hoped that the beavers — set loose in Ealing's Paradise Fields by members of Ealing Wildlife Group, Citizen Zoo, Ealing Council, Friends of Horsenden Hill and Groundwork London, as well as Sadiq Khan himself — will now thrive in the park, and start to breed.
Why does London need beavers? They're vital to helping other species to thrive; building dams, digging canals and creating dead wood, they help maintain a habitat for other creatures to flourish — including water voles, dragonflies, amphibians, birds, reptiles and fish. Do they also gnaw down trees? Well yes, but nobody's perfect.
The releasing of the beavers is supported by the Mayor of London's Rewild London fund, which is creating or restoring around 350 hectares of wildlife habitat in the city.
Said Khan: "We are facing climate and ecological emergencies worldwide, but we have the power to make a difference, and I am committed to ensuring that London is at the forefront of reversing the trends of declining biodiversity and the destruction of nature."
Two beavers were released at Forty Hall Farm in Enfield earlier this year.
