First baby beavers born in the wild at Cairngorms National Park after 400 years

Scotland has seen its first baby beavers born in the wild for 400 years.

Cairngorms National Park announced that the beaver kits were born to two of the six groups that were released in the upper Spey catchment, as part of efforts to re-establish the species in Scotland.

The first kit was born to the pair of beavers that were released onto Wildland Cairngorms Ltd and the other kit is with a beaver family on Rothiemurchus.

The project was launched at the end of last year after the species was hunted to extinction in the UK.

Cairngorms National Park announced that the beaver kits were born to two of the six groups that were recently released. Supplied

While the project brought controversy and concern from some farmers crofters and anglers, the park authority said the creatures, known as “ecosystem engineers”, can help tackle climate change by helping restore rivers and wetlands.

Sarah Henshall, head of Conservation at the Cairngorms National Park Authority, said the news marks an “exciting milestone” in the project to bring beavers, and all they offer, back to Scotland.

“We’ve been monitoring the beavers closely since the first releases in December and it’s encouraging that two of the beaver pairs have already bred successfully.”

She added they are hopeful more kits are on the way after seeing encouraging signs of breeding such as beavers “busily expanding their lodges”.

Dr Roisin Campbell-Palmer, head of restoration at Beaver Trust, said: “The successful birth of a kit is what all the partners on this project have been hoping for this summer.

“With any translocation of a species there are no guarantees that the animals will settle, so for two pairs to have bred successfully proves the work that has gone into identifying suitable habitat and locations has been worthwhile.”

She said: “We will continue to work alongside the Park Authority, local people and organisations to closely monitor all the beaver families and assess their impact on the surrounding area.

“We are committed to helping solve any issues that might arise as the beavers settle into their new homes.”

Jenny Bryce, NatureScot beaver team manager, added it was “rewarding” to see the released beavers doing so well.

“After all the hard work by the Park Authority and many others, it is so rewarding to see the beaver families moved to the Cairngorms National Park doing so well and producing their first kits.

She added: “This project is an important step towards restoring beavers in Scotland, a species which provides many benefits for nature, creating habitats such as ponds and wetlands where other species thrive, as well as moderating water flows and improving water quality.