Introduction to the Woodland Area You may be wondering why the Cornish Seal Sanctuary have decided to introduce Beavers to the woodland area, so let´s take you back to the beginning. Beavers are native to Britain and were once common in our countryside, but they were regularly hunted by humans and became extinct over 400 years ago. The last wild beaver seen on record was during the 16th Century. Beavers were hunted by humans for several reasons; their fur was used for hats and coat linings, their meat was eaten and they were also prized for a special substance called "castoreum". This substance is made in special sacs near the beaver´s bottoms. It is used by beavers, along with urine, to mark their territories, but it smells of vanilla and humans used it for perfumes and as a flavouring for food. Our nature is in crisis. Due to human activity such as habitat destruction, pollution and the introduction of invasive species we are losing important species. In 2016 research showed that 56% of the U.K.´s wild species have declined in the last 50 years, with one in ten facing extinction. One habitat which has really suffered in the U.K. is wetland habitat. We have seen a loss of 90% of wetland in the last century. Ponds and lakes are some of the most species-rich habitats in Britain. Plants, birds, insects, fish, amphibians, mammals: lots of animals use wetland habitats meaning they are really important to our countryside. Now, 10% of species which use wetland habitat are facing extinction. First Beavers introduced to the Woodland Area In March 2021 Tamara Cooper, the Sanctuary´s Curator, said "Once the beavers are released into the new 5km2 home, we will closely monitor their progress and landscape changes. Our desire is to conduct extensive research on biodiversity counts as the environment changes and water quality to see what impact dams have on water pollution. This research will provide us with valuable information which could support future rewilding projects across the country!"