AFTER staggering £30,000 was raised in three weeks, a leading conservation charity is appealing for help to raise the remaining £20,000 needed to secure the future of a family of River Otter wild beavers.
A public meeting has been arranged by Natural England in Ottery St Mary this month and public support has been dubbed "vital" in securing their return to the river banks near the town.
Since the Department for Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) announced that it would be capturing the beavers, for whom the river has been their home for a number of years, the Devon Wildlife Trust has been working tirelessly to ensure their safe return.
Defra authorised their capture with Natural England granting the licence, so they can be tested for the Echinococcus multilocularis parasite – a rare parasitic tapeworm.
Backed by East Devon MP Hugo Swire, the Devon Wildlife Trust applied for a licence from Natural England for their re-release in October.
The licence would give the charity permission to set up a five year monitoring project called the River Otter Beaver Trial.
The project will oversee the population, range and health of the beavers and the effect they have on the local landscape and people.
It will focus on the beavers' impact on wildlife, vegetation, water flow, water quality, communities and infrastructure.
But it will cost around £50,000.
It is understood the granting of the licence for the project will improve the chances of Defra agreeing to re-release the animals.
Meanwhile, Natural England has confirmed that a public meeting has been arranged regarding the granting of the licence, in accordance with International Union for Conservation of Nature guidelines.
"These beavers are a keystone species, an apex of the ecosystem and help shape a healthy natural environment," explained the trust's Steve Hussey.
"We believe they will have, and do have, a very positive impact on the local river system.
"The consultation is part of the process which will decide the future of the population of wild beavers.
"If people have a view, we want them to come along and make their views known.
"The more people who come along the better, this needs to be a community undertaking, because the beavers will be living on their doorstep.
"We have had a number of donations, some as large as several thousand pounds, and this shows the depth of feeling out there.
"But we now have a race against time to secure the remaining amount to ensure a viable longer term project and enhance the chances of the beavers having a longer term future on the River Otter."
The public meeting will take place on Wednesday, January 14, at 6.30pm, Ottery St Mary Scout Centre on Winters Lane.
Those unable to attend can send their comments to Natural England by emailing atwild life.consultation@naturaleng land.org.uk
Alternatively post to c/o Carys Coleman, Block B, Government Buildings, Whittington Road, Worcester, WR5 2LQ, by January 15.
To donate visit www.devonwildlifetrust.org/devons-wild-beavers-appeal or phone 01392 279244.
