Beavers are to be re-introduced to London for the first time in more than 400 years.
A male and female are set to be released into the wild at Fort Hall Farm, Enfield.
The animals were hunted to extinction in the UK for their fur in the 16th century but have since been reintroduced across a number of English counties.
The pair, both aged two, will be housed in a special enclosure in the scheme devised by Enfield Council and Capel Manor College.
The project was awarded £600,000 as part of the Rewild London Fund.
London mayor Sadiq Khan said: “Great to see Enfield Council welcome beavers to their wetlands as part of a series of projects designed to help rewild the area.
“Today City Hall has awarded £600,000 from our Rewild London Fund to projects across our city that will help restore nature.”
Great to see @EnfieldCouncil welcome beavers to their wetlands as part of a series of projects designed to help rewild the area. 🦫
— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) March 17, 2022
Today City Hall has awarded £600,000 from our Rewild London Fund to projects across our city that will help restore nature.pic.twitter.com/WDcNHubrob
Dr Roisin Campbell-Palmer, beaver restoration lead at the Beaver Trust, said she hoped the pair will be able to reproduce by next year.
She said: “We’re delighted to be returning beavers to live in such close proximity to this urban area, working with an extended veterinary team to ensure highest welfare for the animals.
“We’ve seen from Europe and parts of Scotland how adaptive a species beavers are given some water and enough forage."
Beavers are now found living in the wild in Scotland with an estimated 1,000 of the species across 254 locations.
They have also been reintroduced into some English counties such as Staffordshire, where it is hoped their dam building prowess may aid natural flood defences.
Other rewilding projects have also been launched across the UK, including the reintroduction of European bison in Blean Woods, Kent.
White-tailed eagles will also be reintroduced along the south coast of England after going extinct in the early 18th century.
