Beavers disappeared from Britain about 400 years ago, after being hunted to extinction for their meat and fur.
But in recent decades, they have re-emerged in fenced enclosures on nature reserves or been found living in rivers through unlicensed releases and escapes.
In January 2023, the Welsh government asked Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to carry out a feasibility study on the reintroduction of beavers, saying they can boost “the health of plants, wildlife and the UK countryside”.
Recent scientific evidence has shown that beaver dams trap sediments and filter pollutants from agricultural runoff, significantly reducing harmful nitrogen and phosphorus in waterways.
This natural water treatment supports the Welsh government’s goals for improved river quality and ecosystem resilience.
There are four managed enclosures that house beavers in Wales, and an unknown number are living in the wild.