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Beavers to return to the Forest of Dean
Beavers were driven to extinction in England 400 years ago.

Proposal granted full licence by Natural England

The government has backed plans to release beavers into the Forest of Dean.

The project will see four beavers - two adults and two kits - released into a 6.5-acre hectare secure enclosure. It is hoped the beavers may be able to improve biodiversity and build dams and ponds.

Environment secretary Michael Gove said: “The beaver has a special place in English heritage and the Forest of Dean proposal is a fantastic opportunity to help bring this iconic species back to the countryside 400 years after it was driven to extinction.”

Kevin Stannard, Forestry Commission deputy surveyor for the Forest of Dean, added: “We will continue our detailed planning including designing a robust fence to keep the beaver enclosed; securing healthy, disease-free beaver and collecting data from the monitoring of the water flow in the brook. We will continue to give updates as the project develops.”

Scientists believe the beavers may be able to hold back enough water to help with flood alleviation by quickly constructing natural dam structures and creating new habitat.

The proposal has been granted full licence approval by Natural England, who will consider further applications for possible trial releases on a case by case basis, in line with new guidance.

Beavers were driven to extinction in England 400 years ago and were reintroduced in Devon in 2015 for a trial. The beavers will be released into the Forest of Dean in spring 2018.

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VMD responds to Solensia injection concerns

News Story 1
 The VMD has added anaphylaxis to the SPC of Solensia 7 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Cats.

It says that this is a rare side effect, with such adverse events affecting fewer than three animals for every 1000 doses of Solensia sold.

Solensia is used to alleviate osteoarthritis pain in cats. It contains the active ingredient frunevetmab.

Anaphylaxis joins effects such as alopecia, dermatitis, pruritus on the list of adverse effects.

The VMD says that is constantly reviewing adverse event data for all medicines. 

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News Shorts
More bird housing measures introduced in England

The Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA) is to enforce mandatory housing measures in five more regions, as it tackles the spread of avian influenza in kept and wild birds across England.

From 16 February the measures will apply to Cheshire, Herefordshire, Lancashire, Merseyside and Worcestershire. The regions join eight other locations which are already following the measures.

Bird keepers in these areas must house their birds, as well as following strict biosecurity measures. Any locations within a Protection Zone outside these areas must also keep birds housed.

An Avian Influenza Protection Zone, mandating enhanced biosecurity measures, remains in place across Great Britain. On 10 February, APHA also banned the gatherings of poultry, galliforme and anseriforme birds in England, Scotland and Wales

All disease control zones can be checked on APHA's interactive map. Further guidance on additional housing measures can be found here.