London’s beaver regeneration project has passed a new milestone this week, as two new baby beavers have just been born at the site in West London. The Ealing Beaver Project welcomed at least two cute kits to the area, making them the first newborns in what the project refer to as ‘urban London’ in 400 years.
The project has been running at Paradise Fields, the urban wetland space in Greenford, since October 2023 with the hope that the five beavers released into the contained wild would mate and increase in numbers in the ecosystem. Now, it’s proved successful with the announcement of the beavers’ birth today (August 13).
Credit: @thatvetsean, @ealingbeaverproject, and @ealingwildlifegroup via Instagram
While the news broke today, the baby beavers were actually born in the springtime, and in recent weeks have moved out of the lodge and into the publically viewable Paradise Fields. After welcoming in the two kits, they can add it to the list of accomplishments which also include the building of lodges, dams, and new waterways. It’s a pretty fascinating development to see how a species can return to an environment and adapt from scratch, and it’s thanks to The Ealing Beaver Project.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan welcomed the two baby beavers born, saying:“I am delighted that baby beavers have been born in West London. It was a privilege to be involved in the Autumn release of the beavers at Paradise Fields last year and it’s fantastic to see humans and wildlife thrive side by side with this family growing so quickly.
Credit: @mayoroflondon via X/Twitter
“We are facing climate and ecological emergencies worldwide, but we have the power to make a difference, and I am committed to ensuring that London is at the forefront of the rewilding revolution as we work to re-establish lost species and reconnect people and nature.
“Beavers are nature’s environmental engineers and it’s very encouraging to see what a positive change they’ve already had for local communities and nature as we build a fairer, greener city for all Londoners.”
The Ealing Beaver Project is a collaboration between Ealing Wildlife Group, Citizen Zoo, Friends Of Horsende, and Ealing Council, with support from Beaver Trust and Mayor of London with funding from Rewild London Fund. Read more about it here.