The British government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) announced an investigation into whether estate owner Jeremy Paxton held a license to release the animals into the wild.
Paxton could be committing an offense under wildlife laws if the nonnative species escaped from the compound, they said, because of the potential threat to ecosystems, indigenous or protected animals.
Paxton's team insisted the project was legitimate and the animals were not in the wild.
"If DEFRA wants to challenge this then they can," said Derek Gow, who has overseen the project since the quarantine stage.
"The beavers are in a big enclosure, which is protected by a large fence. There is very little chance of them escaping. We are confident that what we have done is perfectly legal and above board. Mr. Paxton's solicitors have looked into this."
The European beaver, which is less destructive than its Canadian cousin and builds fewer dams, was once native to Britain but was hunted almost to extinction in England in the 12th century.
It eventually died out in Scotland in the 16th century, although there have been mounting calls for it to be reintroduced in recent years.
A similar breeding program was attempted in 2001 when 10 beavers were released at a site in Kent, southeast England. But many of the animals died, with those remaining considered too old to breed.
Name: Eurasian Beaver (
Castor fiber)
Primary Classification: Castoridae (Beavers)
Location: Isolated sites in Europe
Habitat: Lakes and rivers, usually near woodland
Diet: Water and riverbank plants, as well as trees
Size: Up to 3.6 ft in length and 70 lbs in weight
Description: Brown to yellowish brown in color; thick, glossy coat; small eyes; stocky body; flattened, hairless tail; webbing between toes
Cool Facts: It will slap its tail on the water before diving to warn others of danger. It marks its territory with "scent mounds" — piles of mud and sticks that the beaver coats in musk oil.
Conservation Status: Near Threatened
Major Threat(s): Habitat loss and pollution
What Can I Do?: Visit the
WWF for information on how you can help.
