A dam good gift: Boris Johnson gives his father Stanley BEAVERS as a present for his 80th birthday
- Boris Johnson gifted his father, Stanley, a group of beavers on his 80th birthday
- The Prime Minister and his siblings got a licence to allow beavers at his estate
- Beavers were native to Britain before excessive hunting made them extinct
Most men are happy receiving a good book or a nice bottle of whisky for their birthday.
But rather than an ordinary present, Boris Johnson gifted his father, Stanley, a group of beavers on his 80th birthday.
According to the Telegraph, the Prime Minister and his siblings clubbed together to get a licence to allow their father to have beavers in the river of his Exmoor estate.
The Prime Minister met with the UK’s top rewilder, Derek Gow, to ensure the paperwork was arranged and the land suitably converted into a good beaver habitat.
Stanley Johnson was said to be ‘delighted’ at the gift.
Boris Johnson gifted his father, Stanley (pictured in London yesterday), a group of beavers on his 80th birthday
Beavers were native to Britain before hunting drove them to extinction in the 16th century. Earlier this month, the Devon Wildlife Trust announced beavers could help prevent flooding and boost wildlife if released back into the wild.
However, the case for reintroduction is far from straightforward. Some farmers believe releasing new species back into the wild could damage their land and harm livestock.
Beavers were native to Britain before hunting drove them to extinction in the 16th century (file)
The Prime Minister (pictured on Friday) met with the UK’s top rewilder, Derek Gow, to ensure the paperwork was arranged and the land suitably converted into a good beaver habitat
The Prime Minister and other cabinet members, including Michael Gove, are understood to be enthusiastic about the reintroduction of various extinct species.
Ben Goldsmith, brother of cabinet minister Zac Goldsmith and a friend of the Johnsons, is an investor in Derek Gow’s rewilding project.
Mr Gow told The Telegraph he is ‘deeply grateful’ to Boris Johnson for his ‘help in returning beavers to England’.
He said: ‘Stanley has got the mission statement now, he’s got the paperwork he needs to put to Natural England so it’s up to him to pursue.
‘We will help him the whole way through.’
Mr Gow said that he has been flooded with requests from people who want to introduce beavers to their estates.