The Environment Ministry plans to reintroduce the beaver to North Zealand following a successful scheme in Jutland

The Danish beaver population is to get another boost as the Environment Ministry launches another trial release, this time in North Zealand.

Beavers had been hunted to extinction more than 1,000 years ago, before they were reintroduced to the wild in western Jutland in 1999. The group of 18 beavers originally released in Klosterheden has now grown to around 120 animals.

The Environment Ministry now plans to release a further 20 animals, which will be taken from Germany, into five different locations around Zealand, including Arresø, Tibirke, Pøleå and Gribskov.

‘We hope that the beavers can create a natural dynamic and variation in the wet and damp areas. The beavers will also be helpful in clearing the willow scrubs along the waterways, which will help provide more sunlight to the areas which will benefit a number of species,’ said Environment Minister Troels Lund Poulsen.

The trial will run over five years, after which the ministry and local councils will evaluate if the animals should be left in place.