Wild Beavers Return to West London After Centuries
Wild beavers have been reintroduced to West London in the Ealing district after 400 years. Five Eurasian beavers, a family unit, came from Scotland to live in the wetlands of Paradise Fields. London Mayor Sadiq Khan was present for the occasion.
The relocation was part of the Ealing Beaver Project, which aims to reintroduce beavers to various regions across England, Wales, and Scotland to reduce the effects of floods and help people reconnect with nature. The Rewild London Fund donated around $49,000 to the cause.
Ealing Wildlife Group Chairman Sean McCormack explained that the organization had chosen Paradise Fields as the location for the project due to its proximity to a high flood-risk zone. He highlighted the beavers’ potential as keystone species and ecosystem engineers to transform the area. With their dam and canal creation, these creatures can slow the flow of waterways and prevent flooding. McCormack added, “We are part of nature. We need to live alongside nature. Beavers are a good example of the ecosystem services provided to us.”
Historically, wild beavers faced extinction in the U.K. from people hunting them for their meat and fur. However, recent years saw efforts paving the way for further conservation and rewilding. Last year, Enfield Council and Capel Manor College launched a project to reintroduce the beavers to Enfield, north London, where a baby beaver was born for the first time in centuries just last month.
While the Ealing site will remain closed to the public for a month to allow the beavers to adjust to their new climate, plans are underway to fully open the area to visitors by the end of the year.
Sarah Kim For The Teen Times
1. What has been reintroduced to West London? Why were the beavers reintroduced?
2. Why was Paradise Fields chosen as the location for the project?
3. What did McCormack say about beavers' potential?
4. How were beaver populations historically? How have they been in recent years?
1. Do you like beavers? What do you think of them?
2. Is using beavers the only way to prevent flooding? Explain.
3. What are some animals that face extinction? Why are they almost extinct?
4. What is London, U.K. like? What are the pros and cons of living there?
Wild beavers have been reintroduced to West London in the Ealing district after 400 years. Five Eurasian beavers, a family unit, came from Scotland to live in the wetlands of Paradise Fields. London Mayor Sadiq Khan was present for the occasion.
