British Beaver
The British beaver was once highly prized for their musk glands which were
used for medicine and for their fur. Although there has been no beaver
population in the wild since the 1100s, the presence of the beaver is evident
in place-names like Beverley (Humberside).
Bears and Wolves
Until a few centuries ago, Britain's country side was roamed by Bears and Wolves.
The Romans captured British Brown Bears and exported them for their wild
beast shows. They became extinct at the beginning of the Middle Ages. England
had a population of wolves until they became extinct in the wild around the
middle of the 16th century. Small pockets of the wolves remained in Ireland
and Scotland until the 18th century.
Wild Boar
Wild boar were once common in Britain. Their extinction came in the 16th century.
Wild boar are now once more living in some British forests having escaped
from captivity and bred in the wild. |