An animal sanctuary has said the arrival of a female beaver to pair up with its resident male is “an exciting moment”.
Parsnip, who is about two years old, arrived at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary from Forestry England’s Cropton Forest enclosure after a short stay at Flamingo Land.
Her move was planned with the Beaver Trust to ensure she was a compatible match for Turnip, a male beaver at the sanctuary. The sanctuary said it had been a Christmas surprise for Turnip.
Dr Roisin Campbell-Palmer, head of restoration at the Beaver Trust, said pairing young beavers successfully was an important step in ensuring their long-term wellbeing.
“Seeing these young beavers pair up and display all the natural behaviours we hope for is a huge success,” she added.
After arriving in Cornwall, Parsnip spent time at the sanctuary’s beaver nursery to acclimatise to her new surroundings.
She is now due to move into the four-acre beaver enclosure, where she and Turnip can “explore, build, and bond”, said the sanctuary.
The beavers will have the opportunity to establish their own territories and Parsnip’s arrival would “continue our important work in caring for orphaned beaver kits,” it added.
Grace Jones, conservation coordinator at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary said: “This is an exciting moment for our sanctuary.
“Thanks to the support of our partners, Parsnip can now start her life with a compatible companion, and we look forward to watching these two beavers settle into their new home.”