Friends of the Earth has taken the first formal legal steps to prevent the Government from capturing a family of beavers living in the wild in Devon and placing them in captivity.
In papers submitted to the court on Tuesday evening [22 October 2014] the environment campaign group is seeking to challenge licences issued by Natural England to capture the animals, which were filmed on the River Otter earlier this year.
It is not known where the beavers came from or how long they have been on Devon's River Otter, although anecdotal evidence suggests they may have been resident for several years. Nor is it clear how many animals are present. Film footage of the beavers' broadcast on shows adults and kits (baby beavers), suggesting that a breeding population has established itself.
Friends of the Earth's action will require Natural England to release further information about the basis on which they issued the licences – which will determine whether or not the legal challenge will proceed.
Beavers are a native species once found right across England, which were driven to extinction several hundred years ago. In recent years several populations have been re-established in Scotland. Wildlife experts, including Natural England itself, have indicated that their reintroduction would bring many benefits to the English countryside.
Defra has argued that the beavers should be captured to test them for disease (from the tapeworm, Echinococcus multilocularis). While it is highly unlikely they are infected, it is possible to test and release them within a day, as is currently done in Scotland.
Friends of the Earth is very concerned that licences have been issued to capture the animals without proper consideration for the alternatives, or of the conservation status of the beavers in Britain, which are a legally protected species under European law.
Friends of the Earth campaigner Alasdair Cameron said:
"At a time when our wildlife is facing an unprecedented crisis, the Government should be taking steps to protect and expand the range of key native species like the beaver - not removing them from our rivers.
"We know that beavers can bring many benefits, such as boosting fish stocks, improving biodiversity and helping to prevent flooding – as well as injecting a little more joy into our landscape.
"These animals have been living and breeding in Devon for years, Ministers should work with the local community to find a sensible solution that allows them to remain in the wild.
"This is an opportunity to create a richer, better environment for ourselves and our children, where we can experience the beauty of animals that are an important part of our ecosystems."
