Beavers will be released into the wild in England after the government approved their reintroduction. The decision follows years of trials and will see beavers make an officially approved return to waterways.

Wild releases of beavers in England get go-ahead in ‘milestone’ for nature - Government announces new licensing system to release the ‘ecosystem engineers’ into the wild to help wildlife and curb flooding and drought.

Beavers were hunted to extinction in Britain around 400 years ago but have made their way back to England's rivers, through escapes from enclosures and illegal releases, and were given legal protection in 2022.

Once widespread, then hunted to extinction in the UK, beavers have bounced up and down the political agenda - before the government today finally approved their wild release. But officials have said licences to kill beavers could be issued "as a last resort".

Officials intended to catch the beavers and put them into captivity, but Devon Wildlife Trust – already running a trial with the animals in a fenced enclosure in the north of the county – put forward plans for a five-year trial monitoring them in the wild, with the support of local people.

Beavers will return to the wild in England for the first time in 400 years, the government has announced today (Friday 28th February).