Caught on Camera - meet the wildlife thriving at our Sanctuary

The Cornish Seal Sanctuary Beaver Project is part of a national scheme, to rehabilitate orphaned beavers for reintroduction into a wild/semi-wild environment. This is all connected to a wider mission to explore the positive environmental impacts of beaver reintroduction in the UK and to educate the public about their ecological importance.

Our Beaver project is a vital part of our broader commitment to wildlife conservation, education, and ecosystem restoration.

Since 2020, the Cornish Seal Sanctuary has successfully rehabilitated 7 Eurasian beaver kits, with one male being a part of the first wild release project in the Southwest, in association with Devon Wildlife Trust.

 

We been reviewing recent footage from the enclosure and are thrilled to see an amazing variety of British species here at the Sanctuary.

View our camera trap footage here

“It's been absolutely incredible to see the variety of wildlife captured on our camera traps at the beaver enclosure, from graceful herons and swooping bats to tiny field mice and even elusive otters, the area is teeming with life.

And of course, Turnip the beaver has been busy perfecting his dam! These sightings are a brilliant reminder of how restoring habitats benefits not just one species, but entire ecosystems. It’s so exciting to witness nature thriving; every image and video feels like a little celebration of biodiversity in action right here on site! - Grace, Conservation Coordinator.

 

Turnip the Beaver Kit: A New Chapter in Conservation at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary

Thanks to our partnership with the brilliant team at the Beaver Trust, we have welcomed a number of Eurasian beavers to the sanctuary, including our latest resident: Turnip.

Turnip was rescued in Scotland by the SSPCA back in May 2024. He was found alone, calling out, with no sign of his parents nearby. It was immediately clear he was very young, so young that his umbilical cord was still attached, and his front teeth had only just started to come through.

With no parental care and very little chance of surviving on his own, Turnip was brought into expert hands and eventually transferred to us here in Cornwall, where our team could give him the specialist care he needed.

Since arriving, Turnip has captured our hearts. He began his time with us in our on-site beaver nursery, a calm, secure space designed especially for kits. Over the following months, our Animal Care Team helped him build confidence, develop his natural behaviours, and grow into a healthy, curious young beaver.

We’re delighted to share that Turnip has now graduated to our larger, purpose-built 4-acre beaver enclosure, a big milestone for both him and us. This naturalistic space gives him plenty of room to explore, dig, forage, and shape his surroundings just as he would in the wild. Watching him take those first bold steps into his new home was a proud and emotional moment for the whole team…go Turnip!

 

Turnip will remain with us until he reaches sexual maturity, at which point he’ll be ready for the next stage in his journey. Working closely with the Beaver Trust, the aim is to find Turnip a suitable mate and then rehome or release him into a safe, monitored wild habitat; contributing directly to the growing population of beavers being reintroduced across the UK.

 

Our work with Turnip is part of a bigger picture.

The Eurasian beaver was once native to the UK but was hunted to extinction over 400 years ago. Today, thanks to conservation efforts led by groups like the Beaver Trust, these “ecosystem engineers” are returning! And with them, a host of benefits for our landscapes and wildlife.

Beavers play a vital role in the health of freshwater ecosystems. By building dams and creating wetlands, they slow water flow, reduce flooding downstream, and help purify water. Their habitats support an incredible diversity of life, from amphibians and insects to birds and fish. They even help tackle climate change by storing water and capturing carbon in the wetlands they create.

 

Since arriving at the sanctuary’s specially designed woodland enclosure, our newest resident has been busy doing what beavers do best: reengineering the landscape in ways that benefit both nature and biodiversity.

We’ve seen exciting signs of dam construction as Turnip shapes water flow through the enclosure — a fantastic indicator of natural, instinctive behaviour. Small branches are being gnawed and shaped, showing clear evidence of him managing vegetation, and preparing materials for dams and lodges. Trail cameras and staff observations show Turnip confidently exploring the full enclosure, interacting with his surroundings, and showing excellent signs of adaptation.

Beavers are often called “ecosystem engineers”, and for good reason. Their dams slow down water, reduce flooding, improve water quality, and create vital wetland habitats for birds, amphibians, and insects. They help boost biodiversity and restore balance to river systems in an entirely natural way.

We’re incredibly proud to be supporting the rehabilitation and care of beavers like Turnip, and to be playing our part in their story of return. His journey: from a vulnerable kit to a confident young beaver, is a testament to what collaborative conservation can achieve.