""2024 was the first year that area didn't flood," Şeniz Mustafa, the project's Urban Beaver Officer, told Condé Nast Traveller on a recent visit. "These animals are amazing and bonkers and just brilliant," she added."
"Sean McCormack, Project Lead & License Holder, added: "To be able to bring people down here - next to an urban retail park - and say, 'This was an extinct species in Britain and you can see it now on your doorstep'? That's just been the best feeling ever.""
"Indeed, these incredibly cute herbivores do wonders to our ecosystem. As well as felling trees for food, they construct dams and lodges, increasing and maintaining water levels in their territory."
"Not only does this protect them from predation, it helps humans in these areas by preventing flooding."
The Ealing Beaver Project, initiated in 2020, aims to reintroduce beavers to Ealing, a suburban area in West London. This initiative seeks to enhance local biodiversity and engage the community while protecting homes from flooding. In October 2023, Eurasian beavers were introduced, leading to significant positive outcomes, including the area's first year without flooding. Beavers contribute to the ecosystem by building dams, which help maintain water levels and prevent flooding, while also promoting forest growth by opening up canopies for more light.
Read at CN Traveller
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