Down To Earth brings you the top happenings in the world of global ecology
New study supports reintroducing beavers to Britain
A new study has backed reintroducing the Eurasian Beaver, that was exterminated from Britain 400 years ago, back to the country.
The study is the result of a five-year-old research by researchers at the University of Exeter to see whether beavers could be released into England and Scotland without causing damages to farmers, according to a media report.
For these five years, the scientists tracked a group of beavers that had escaped from an animal park and were found to be living along the Otter river near Exeter.
In the five-year-period, the beavers built dams on the river and also increased their population.
According to the scientists the beaver dams have helped to reduce the risk of flooding in the area by reducing the flow of water by as much as 30 per cent. They have also helped regenerate wetlands and increase fish stocks.
Moreover, the animals have become a tourist attraction, which in turn has helped to boost the local economy.
Government officials will study the report’s findings but one minister has already expressed support to reintroduce beavers in Britain.
Los Angeles bans use of wild, exotic and dangerous animals at house parties
Los Angeles, the United States’ second-largest city, has voted to ban the use of ‘wild, exotic and dangerous’ animals in house parties, according to a media report.
The LA City Council approved legislation to this effect this week.
Last year, California governor, Gavin Newsom had signed legislation to ban the use of bears, tigers and monkeys in circus acts.
The report quoted a councilmember David Ryu as saying that exhibiting wild animals in house parties was ‘barbaric and unethical and perpetrated the view that such animals were toys.’
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