Beavers were last recorded around Loch Ness in about 1527; nearly 500 years later, Scotland has licensed conservation groups to release up to 15 beaver families into the River Ness catchment over three years.

Every coin has two sides. While human civilisation continues to move forward at a breathtaking pace, driven by trade, industry and technological advancements, somebody else often has to pay the price for it. The natural world has been one of the biggest victims of this progress, with several species being pushed to the brink of extinction.

Beavers were among them. Once native to Scotland, these industrious mammals were hunted extensively for their fur, meat and castoreum, a secretion that was highly valued in the perfume trade. Centuries of exploitation eventually wiped them out from the Scottish landscape.

Now, nearly 500 years later, they are preparing to make a comeback around Loch Ness.On October 30, 2026, NatureScot, Scotland's nature conservation agency, announced that a licence had been granted to two conservation organisations, Trees for Life and Beaver Trust, to bring beavers back to the River Ness catchment.