Primary school pupils invited to name beavers

Primary school pupils have been asked to suggest names for two beavers that have been brought to live at a local nature reserve for the first time in 400 years.

The Eurasian beavers were released into an enclosure at the Old River Bed in Shrewsbury, last month.

They were transported to Shropshire from Scotland, and their release last month is one of a number of recent projects in enclosed areas in the UK.

Shropshire Wildlife Trust (SWT) & Shrewsbury Town Council have now launched a contest for primary school children to name the beavers, with an 18 March deadline for entries.

In a Facebook post announcing the contest, the wildlife trust said it had sent local schools a link where staff could submit children's suggestions. The pair is made up one male beaver and one female beaver.

The trust added that staff could submit possible names on behalf of a class or on behalf of a whole school.

The government announced last week that the animals would be released more widely across England, under a licensing system overseen by Natural England.

In the Shrewsbury project, it is hoped the beavers will help to maintain the nature reserve, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

SWT said in late February that the beavers were "settling in well" and had been filmed grooming each other, adding that this was a sign of a good relationship between the pair.

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