By Thanaporn (Niece) Prayoonrat
In a historic moment for climate change mitigation, a family of Eurasian beavers, LSE’s mascot, have returned to West London for the first time in nearly four centuries. The beavers, originally from a wild population in Scotland, have now found their new residence at Paradise Fields in Ealing.
The initiative, sponsored by Rewild London Fund, aims to enhance local habitats and reduce flood risks by encouraging the revival of the London beaver population.
Beavers, known as ‘nature’s engineers’, have the potential to transform their surroundings. They create dams and trenches, which can significantly impact water flow dynamics, making the land more resilient to flooding.
Dr Sean McCormack, veterinarian and chair of the Ealing Wildlife Group, underlined the beavers’ role in flood prevention in a BBC article: “[The beavers] will turn this into a sponge where the land will hold more water behind their dams, in their ponds in these complex wetlands, and it will release slowly.”
The beavers’ return to London is a significant step in the city’s effort to embrace urban wildlife and combat the effects of climate change. London Mayor Sadiq Khan expressed pride in transforming London into a wildlife haven.
The public will have the opportunity to learn more about these creatures through ‘beaver safaris’ after a one-month period, during which the area will remain closed to allow the beavers to settle in.
Photography by Thomas Ronveaux
