
Baby beavers born at Cairngorms National Park spotted for first time
A Scottish national park has confirmed the arrival of at least five baby beavers two years after they were reintroduced to the Highlands.
Cairngorms National Park confirmed five new arrivals were spotted on camera traps at two sites across the park and are hopeful there could be more at other sites.
The new arrivals are said to be a 'positive step' towards the park's ambition to establish a healthy, sustainable population. Cairngorms National Park Cairngorms National Park confirmed five new arrivals were spotted on camera traps. Cairngorms National Park
It comes less than two years after beavers were released at the national park, marking their return after the species was hunted to extinction in the UK.
Jonathan Willet, beaver project manager at the Cairngorms National Park Authority, said the kits were spotted exploring the habitat around them with their parents and splashing in the water. Cairngorms National Park Beavers were reintroduced to Cairngorms National Park two years ago. Cairngorms National Park
The new arrivals join two juvenile beavers who were born at the national park in August last year.
'Kits usually stay with their family for two years before leaving the family unit to find a mate,' Mr Willet said. Cairngorms National Park The new arrivals are said to be a 'positive step towards' the park's ambition to establish a healthy, sustainable population. Cairngorms National Park
'Those born last year are now healthy juveniles, who will be ready to start exploring and finding mates of their own over the next year. It's heartening to see that this year's breeding season has also been a success.'
The kits born last year marked the first time baby beavers were born in the wild in the UK for 400 years.
Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Record
4 hours ago
- Daily Record
Scots soldier who lost eye during training opens up on 'daunting' experience
Steven Williams, 42, from Edinburgh, was forced to leave the Army in 2011 after a sharp tree branch snapped back into his face during field training in Nairobi. A Scots soldier who lost an eye during a patrol in Kenya is hoping to inspire others by taking on a gruelling series of Kiltwalks. Steven Williams is raising awareness for veterans with sight loss after he was discharged from the army in 2011 after a branch snapped back in his face in Nairobi. At first, he shrugged it off as there was 'blood". However, by the morning, he was blind in one eye. After flying home to Edinburgh, he underwent 12 operations before doctors gave him the heartbreaking choice - undergo further treatment or remove his eye. He made the difficult decision to have the operation in May of 2011 and was soon informed he was 'no longer fit to serve', reports Edinburgh Live. Steven admits he soon felt he had lost 'his job and purpose, and felt completely lost.' He sought help from Sight Scotland Veterans, which he hailed as 'invaluable'. Now, he's taking part in four Kilt Walks this year in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee alongside his partner. They're looking to highlight the work of Sight Scotland Veterans. Recalling his time in the army, Steven said: 'I served ten years in the Army, starting with the Royal Scots. I did a couple of tours in Iraq and each one was completely different. "The first was intense combat, modern day warfare. The second was more about training the Iraqi Army to be self-sufficient and allow the British Armed Forces to leave. There were some hairy moments along the way, we got blown up by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in the back of a FV510 Warrior, an armoured vehicle, during one patrol down 'Route Irish' which is a 7.5mile stretch from the Green Zone to Baghdad's International Airport. "The FV510 Warrior was immobilised when an IED detonated at the front, striking the engine, if it hadn't, I wouldn't be here to tell the story. Our training automatically kicked in and we secured the site but thankfully there was no secondary fire." Steven heard that The Black Watch were seeking a 30-man platoon from Scottish regiments for an upcoming deployment in Afghanistan. Admitting that he was 'naively feeling invincible', he volunteered. Part of the training was in Kenya. He recalled: "After four weeks in the field near Nairobi, a branch snapped back during a patrol and struck me in the eye. There was no blood, and you couldn't really stop, so I kept going, but by morning I couldn't see. "I was CASEVAC (casualty evacuated) from the field and taken to hospital in Nairobi where they removed part of the thorn. I flew back with a field doctor having drops put in my eye every fifteen minutes during a ten-hour flight. 'Back in the UK, and I remember being in Heathrow and I was still wearing my dusty and dirty camouflage clothing, and the field doctor went into one of those fancy designer shops and bought some 'civvy' clothes. I went to Moorfields Eye Hospital in London to stabilise my eye and I was transferred to Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre for a week before returning to my unit in Edinburgh. I still had the eye, but I had no central vision." Doctors 'didn't know what to do' following dozens of treatments, and after two years of being unable to serve, Steven felt he was ready to leave the army. Although admits it was 'daunting'. He continued: "Things got extremely hard. I started to feel sorry for myself and I didn't know what to do. I essentially lost my eye, my job, my purpose, and I felt completely lost. "It was around this time I started to get help from Sight Scotland Veterans and my independent living worker in Midlothian was amazing. She supported not just me, but also my partner and our children. That meant the world, because when a veteran loses their sight, the whole family is affected. Until I had my eye removed, people didn't even understand that I was injured. It was invisible, and that made it even harder to deal with. "I was fitted with a prosthetic eye, but it was so uncomfortable, and I was told I would need yet another operation on my eye lids and I couldn't face it. So, I spoke with my family, and we all agreed that if I was OK with how I looked (without the prosthetic eye), I didn't need it." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Steven is not legally classified as sight-impaired, but says his sight loss affects him every day. He struggles walking downstairs, judging distances or noticing things from the side. He's also 'constantly worries' about bumping into things. Steven says he's spent ten years 'pretending he doesn't have sight loss'. He added: "Over time, I've tried to be a bit kinder to myself. The support I received from Sight Scotland Veterans was invaluable. "They encouraged me to get involved with the community again. I started by volunteering to coach my son's football team. That led me to the Lothian Veterans Centre where, after seven months of volunteering, I was offered a part-time job as an employability officer. "Eventually, I became the operations Manager for four years. It was a rewarding but demanding role, often supporting people in crisis such as facing job loss, homelessness, or struggling with their mental or physical health. "I was regularly contacted out of hours, even on Christmas Day, and often neglected my own wellbeing. All this time I wasn't dealing with my own sight loss, and my mental health began to suffer. Throughout this time Sight Scotland Veterans remained a constant support." Steven realised he 'needed a break', and began exploring mindfulness and yoga. He found a role with Sight Scotland Veterans, and began helping veterans rebuild their lives after the pandemic. Since then, he's started a new role as an independent living worker. He added: "I thoroughly enjoy helping veterans live as independently as possible and reconnect with their communities. "I know first-hand how vital this support is, especially for those experiencing sight loss for the first time or facing significant changes."


Edinburgh Live
5 hours ago
- Edinburgh Live
Busy Edinburgh pavement taped off as fire crews race to West End incident
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Get the latest Edinburgh Live breaking news on WhatsApp Edinburgh fire crews blocked off a West End pavement on Thursday evening amid an emergency incident. On June 19, firefighters raced to Morrison Street after being made aware of an electrical fire under the pavement. They were made aware around 6.30pm and are still in attendance. One appliance was sent to the incident. The pavement has been blocked off to pedestrians while investigations are carried out. In images shared with Edinburgh Live, around four firefighters are pictured at the scene. One concerned passer-by said: "I walked past around 7.10pm and noticed the area is closed off. I couldn't see what was going on in the building or any flames." Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. A spokesperson for Scottish Fire and Rescue said: "We were made aware of an electrical fire under the pavement at Morrison Street. "We are waiting on Scottish power arriving. One appliance is at the scene and we are still in attendance. "We were made aware at 6.31pm."

Scotsman
7 hours ago
- Scotsman
New project capturing memories of Scottish whaling communities launched by historian Dan Snow
The Whalers' Memory Bank brings together new and lost stories of Scottish whalers and their intrepid adventures on South Georgia island. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Over the last two years, the South Georgia Heritage Trust and the South Georgia Museum have been working alongside former whaling communities in Scotland to create The Whalers' Memory Bank. Launching on June 27 in Dundee, with help from historian Dan Snow, the Whalers' Memory Bank is a brand-new living, growing digital time capsule where veterans of the whaling industry, their families and communities have come together to share their stories with a wider audience. The project has been made possible by National Lottery players with funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It tells the story of modern whaling (between 1904-1965) in the Southern Hemisphere. British companies played a key role in the industry and had a largely Scottish workforce, attracting many working-class men with the promise of adventure and competitive wages. Whalers' Memory Bank montage. The Memory Bank enables visitors to the platform to better understand how whale products (which ranged from margarine to the production of soap and cosmetics) were such a vital resource during the 20th century, and an essential ingredient to how we not only fed and armed ourselves as a nation, but how they literally kept the wheels of Britain turning. It looks at whaling through the lens of the time rather than with hindsight, as it is something we simply can't imagine with whale preservation a cornerstone of worldwide conservation efforts today. Our shared memory of what was once an essential industry, and an integral part of Scottish social history, is fading. Importantly, The Whalers' Memory Bank has combined new and existing material, now captured in one place for the first time. To watch a short film (1 min 30) about the project, visit: Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Since the project launched in June 2023 the South Georgia Museum has run a number of workshops with whaling veterans where they shared their stories, knowledge and personal collections. The museum has also worked with other Scottish museums and has received several hundred items that also now form part of the Memory Bank. Whalers on South Georgia. As a result, the Memory Bank can provide insights into what life was like for whalers on South Georgia who had travelled 8,000 miles from home in Scotland to find work, due to its scarcity. The whaling stations and 'factory' ships were like mini-towns and there were many different roles including processing whales on land at the whaling station or on board a factory ship, working as a radio operator, 'mess boy', blacksmith or helicopter pilot searching for whales at sea. These fascinating real-life experiences are told through film, oral histories, photographs and more. Visitors to the Memory Bank will be able to find out more about the whaling community's lives as well as taking a 3D tour of a whaling station on South Georgia where a staggering 176,000 whales were processed island wide. Jayne Pierce, Project Director and Curator at the South Georgia Museum said: 'Since we launched the project in June 2023, we have been inundated with material for the Whalers' Memory Bank which showed us we were onto something in terms of people wanting to tell this untold story. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'It has really been a joint effort, bringing together former whalers, their families and their communities to hear their stories and get their help in shaping what the Memory Bank has become. It is their generosity in sharing their time and personal collections from videos, objects and photographs stored in attics, cupboards and drawers which has helped us create such a special and unique project. 'Through these personal stories, we really hope the Memory Bank will connect communities across local, national and international boundaries and dispel some of the myths around whaling by telling the story through the eyes of the people who lived and breathed it. What we have created is a richer experience than a simple online museum database - dynamic rather than static - uplifting and celebratory. 'Importantly, the Memory Bank is also underpinned by a digital database showing collections and archives from partner museums. We want the Memory Bank to become a way marker to other whaling resources – a one stop shop that is free to use and accessible – including links to other books and oral histories former whalers have produced which was really important for us to include.' Gibbie Fraser, Chair of the Shetland ex-Whalers Association said: 'On behalf of Shetland ex-Whalers Association veterans we are pleased to have helped shape the Whalers' Memory bank. We have an extensive collection of photos from the whaling years which we were at a loss as to what to do with until the Memory Bank came along and will save them for future generations to see. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'For many of us the whaling was a great adventure as well as a hard life and we really wanted to share this with the wider world. We hope people will get a better understanding of what life was like for us, our families and communities 8,000 miles away back home in Shetland.' Helen Balfour, Assistant Curator, South Georgia Museum said: 'Working on the Whalers' Memory Bank has been a real privilege, not least because it's been fascinating to learn more about my fellow Shetlanders' roles within the industry but also because of my family connections to South Georgia. Both my grandfathers and great-grandfather were whalers on South Georgia in the 1950s and 1930s, so to understand more about what they saw, what they experienced and how they, their colleagues and families back home must have felt, is incredibly special. It is amazing that over 60 years on from the whaling the camaraderie that exists between the whalers is just as strong and I hope you can see it reflected in the Whalers' Memory Bank.' Caroline Clark, Heritage Fund Director for Scotland, said: 'We take a very different view of whaling now but it was once an industry essential to the national economy and to the lives of these communities. Thanks to the support of National Lottery players, the Whalers' Memory Bank team have done an incredible job working with the former whaling communities to capture the personal stories of whalers and their families, exploring this important untold part of Scottish social history. We are delighted to see the Whalers' Memory Bank launched today and thank everyone who has taken the time to share their memories and personal collections with each other and the wider world.' Creating the Whalers' Memory Bank would not have been possible without support from the Scottish Fisheries Museum (Anstruther), the Scottish Maritime Museum (Irvine), the Shetland Museum & Archives and Dundee Heritage Trust's Verdant Works. The Salvesen Ex-Whalers Club and the Shetland ex-Whalers Association have also been instrumental in sharing their experiences and memories. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Whalers' Memory Bank is being unveiled as part of the new 'Whale of a Weekend' festival by the South Georgia Heritage Trust in Dundee. This spectacular three-day free festival brings art, science and adventure to Dundee waterfront and will showcase Scotland's deep-rooted connections to the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia. Also being unveiled for the first time is Scottish sculpture Michael Visocchi's brand-new Whale Memorial, Commensalis; a powerful tribute to the story of the whale's dark history and its resurgence in recent years. There will be interactive exhibitions, a host of family-friendly activities and exclusive talks from world-renowned polar explorers and scientists throughout the festival too.