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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Escaped beaver fells river trees | Escaped beaver fells river trees |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A beaver that has been felling trees after escaping from a farm is being hunted by conservationists. | A beaver that has been felling trees after escaping from a farm is being hunted by conservationists. |
| The beaver is one of three that broke out of the farm in Lifton, Devon, in October, owner Derek Gow said. The other two have since been re-captured. | The beaver is one of three that broke out of the farm in Lifton, Devon, in October, owner Derek Gow said. The other two have since been re-captured. |
| The last six-stone (38kg) animal is believed to be felling trees 20 miles (32km) away on the banks of the River Tamar near Gunnislake, in Cornwall. | The last six-stone (38kg) animal is believed to be felling trees 20 miles (32km) away on the banks of the River Tamar near Gunnislake, in Cornwall. |
| Mr Gow said he was to use "honey traps" to find the missing animal. | Mr Gow said he was to use "honey traps" to find the missing animal. |
| Mr Gow keeps 24 of the animals under licence from government agency Natural England as part of a wildlife photography business. | |
| He said the escaped animal was one of three that got out of Upcott Grange Farm. | He said the escaped animal was one of three that got out of Upcott Grange Farm. |
| It is suspected the electric fence around the beaver pen failed after flooding in the area, Mr Gow added. | It is suspected the electric fence around the beaver pen failed after flooding in the area, Mr Gow added. |
| Hunted to extinction | Hunted to extinction |
| He said: "We've checked the fence, we can't find any holes at all. | He said: "We've checked the fence, we can't find any holes at all. |
| "We can't think of any other way they might have got out." | "We can't think of any other way they might have got out." |
| The other two, both females, were soon recovered after from a nearby lake, but not before they had felled a number of trees on the River Thrushel. | |
| It is believed the male has travelled further in a bid to find a mate. | |
| Derek Gow keeps 24 beavers at Upcott Grange Farm | Derek Gow keeps 24 beavers at Upcott Grange Farm |
| Mr Gow said: "I know where he is, but he's occupying a territory of probably a kilometre in length." | Mr Gow said: "I know where he is, but he's occupying a territory of probably a kilometre in length." |
| Mr Gow said he planned to catch the escapee by using a number of "honey traps", boxes that have the scent of a female beaver. | Mr Gow said he planned to catch the escapee by using a number of "honey traps", boxes that have the scent of a female beaver. |
| He said: "We've got traps being made up at the moment. | He said: "We've got traps being made up at the moment. |
| "Using the scent from one of the female beavers, we'll be able to catch the male beaver fairly quickly." | "Using the scent from one of the female beavers, we'll be able to catch the male beaver fairly quickly." |
| Beavers were hunted to extinction in England and Wales during the 12th Century and disappeared from the rest of the country 400 years later. | Beavers were hunted to extinction in England and Wales during the 12th Century and disappeared from the rest of the country 400 years later. |
| They were hunted for their fur and throat glands, which were believed to have medicinal properties. | They were hunted for their fur and throat glands, which were believed to have medicinal properties. |