Cornish Seal Sanctuary welcome baby beavers
The kits will learn to be adults in their specially-built nursery
For the first time in two years - the Cornish Seal Sanctuary have welcomed three baby beavers.
The Eurasian beaver kits are all siblings, and will learn to be adults in their specially-made nursery.
The trio, who are less than a year old and were rescued by the Beaver Trust, will later be moved to a larger habitat, where they'll be able to build dams, lodges and shape the woodland area for their needs.
It comes after beavers Norbert and Barbara, who had been living at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary since 2020, moved onto their new home at Poole Farm, Devon, following a successful rehabilitation.
Tamara Cooper, Curator for the Cornish Seal Sanctuary, said: “It’s a really exciting time for the Cornish Seal Sanctuary; our beaver habitat makes up a vital part of our conservation work, and to see this wonderful success from our rehabilitation project has just been incredible.
“Now, we’re thrilled to be starting the next phase of this project with our three new beaver kits, and we can’t wait to see what they create with this space!”
Dr Roisin Campbell-Palmer, Head of Restoration at Beaver Trust, said: “During some regular trapping to translocate a family of beavers unfortunately flooding made it impossible to find the parents of these three kits.
“So, we're glad to be working with the Cornish Seal Sanctuary who are able to offer a temporary home for these kits until they are big enough for onward release elsewhere in the country.
“Partnerships like these are fundamental to maintaining high welfare standards in beaver restoration.”
Jana Sirova, Head of SEA LIFE TRUST Sanctuaries, adds: “Now is the perfect time to see these budding beavers in action, before they move into the larger habitat.
“Watch the beavers in the nursery or catch them on our beaver cam outside the hut. There’s plenty to learn about these amazing creatures on your visit to the Sanctuary.”
Beavers are known as a ‘keystone species’, as their natural behaviour has a big impact on our landscape and wildlife. By damming waterways, beavers pool water, creating new wetland and attracting wildlife, which in turn provides a home and water source for many species.
To find out more about the Cornish Seal Sanctuary’s Secret Creek Beaver Project, click here.
They've launched a competition to name one of the baby beavers - the information for which you can check out here.