A conservationist accuses his neighbours of keeping his beavers after they escaped. The dispute raises questions about wildlife ownership and local conservation efforts.
Cornwall: A former Army major is in a dispute with his neighbours over beavers. Merlin Hanbury-Tenison claims they have taken his beavers after they escaped. He has a license to reintroduce them but says his neighbours won’t let him retrieve them.
Merlin runs a conservation project called Cabilla Cornwall. He and his wife host yoga retreats to fund their work. The beavers first escaped in 2019 and have run away multiple times since. When he learned they were spotted nearby, he rushed to get them back.
However, he was stopped at his neighbour’s property line. He claims his neighbour refused him access to catch the beavers. In a magazine article, he expressed his confusion, saying people usually help him retrieve the animals.
After a disagreement over ownership, his neighbour insisted Merlin could only enter with permission. Merlin explained he is licensed to recapture the beavers, but his neighbour dismissed his concerns, saying it was a “you” problem.
Merlin is worried about the beavers’ well-being. He hopes they are happy in their new home. Meanwhile, his neighbour insists they did not kidnap the beavers. He claims they simply appeared on his land and that he followed the advice of wildlife authorities to leave them alone.
The neighbour argues that beavers are wild animals and no one owns them. He believes Merlin’s claims are unfounded and that the beavers may not even belong to him. He also refuses to let Merlin trap the beavers, as he believes wildlife should remain wild.
Natural England, the licensing authority, stated that beavers are protected species. They confirmed that beaver enclosure licenses require secure fencing and prompt reporting of escapes. They also noted that landowners must comply with laws protecting the beavers.
Merlin has been contacted for further comments on the situation. The dispute highlights ongoing challenges in wildlife conservation and local land management.
