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England’s first beavers to live in the wild in 400 years are positively affecting the community and the environment, experts have said.
The animals, who unexpectedly appeared along the River Otter in Devon more than a decade ago, are being monitored to determine whether they benefit the local area and should continue living there.
The beavers have significantly reduced water flow, a researcher has said, which means their dams can potentially reduce the risk of flooding.
Professor Richard Brazier from the University of Exeter said research shows plant and animal life is also flourishing in their ponds, which catch sediment and inorganic fertilisers washed from farmland.
The beavers have also drawn tourists to the area, helping local commerce.
1/25 Inquisitive by Audan Rikardsen, Norway
From a hide on the coast of northern Norway, it took Audunthree years of planning to capture this majestic bird of prey in its coastal environment. After some time, the golden eagle became curious of the camera and seemed to like being in the spotlight.
Audan Rikardsen/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
2/25 Training session by Stefan Christmann, Germany
When Stefan came across this penguin couple in Atka Bay, Antarctica, seemingly with an egg, he was surprised as it was too early in the season for egg-laing. Upon closer inspection he discovered the egg was a snowball! Perhaps the diligent couple were practicing egg transfer in preparation for when their real egg arrived. This is possibly the first time it has ever been witnessed and documented.
Stefan Christmann/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
3/25 What a poser by Clement Mwangi, Kenya
In Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve, Clement spent time observing this beautiful leopard as she soaked up the last warm rays of the setting sun. Clementis mindful to remember to take pleasure in life’s simple moments –being all too aware that sometimes, as a wildlife photographer, you can miss the exceptional while looking for the unusual.
Clement Mwangi/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
4/25 Beak to beak by Caludio Contreras Koob Mexico
Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve in the state of Yucatán is home to Mexico’s largest flock of Caribbean flamingos. This chick is less than five days old –it will stay in its nest less than a week before it joins a crèche of other youngsters who wander around the colonysearching for food.
Caludio Contreras Koob/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
5/25 Ocean’s signature by Angel Fitor, Spain
Angel took this image in the waters off ofAlicante, Spain. Immersed in a strong current, an otherwise slightly undulating salp chain twists and turning forming whimsical shapes. Salps move by contracting, which pumps water through their gelatinous bodies.
Angel Fitor/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
6/25 The unwelcome visitor by Salvador Colvée Nebot, Spain
Over several months, Salvador watched different species of bird use the dead flower spike of the agave in Valencia, Spain as a perch before descending to a small pond to drink. A pair of common kestrels were frequent visitors though each time they came magpies would hassle them.
Salvador Colvée Nebot/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
7/25 Losing the fight by Aaron Gekoski, UK
Orangutans have been used in degrading performances at Safari World, Bangkok –and many other locations –for decades. The shows were temporarily stopped in 2004 due to international pressure, but today the shows continue –twice a day, every day –with hundreds of people paying to watch the orangutans box, dance, play the drums and more.
Aaron Gekoski/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
8/25 Station squabble by Sam Rowley, UK
Sam discovered the best way to photograph the mice inhabiting London’s Underground was to lie on the platform and wait. He only saw them fight over scraps of food dropped by passengers a few times, possibly because it is so abundant. This fight lasted a split second, before one grabbed a crumb and they went their separate ways.
Sam Rowley/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
9/25 Dressed for dawn, Csaba Tökölyi, Hungary
Csaba had been in a hide all night photographing nocturnal species and their activities, but as the golden light of dawn reflected on the surface of the water, an egret in wonderful breeding plumage stopped close by. The elongated scapular feathers covered the bird as if it was wearing a gown.
Csaba Tökölyi/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
10/25 Meeting place by Yaz Loukhal, France
After a rough journey by sea to the remote Snow HillIsland off the east coast of the Antarctic Penisula, Yaz flew by helicopter and then trekked through thick snow to reach the emperor penguin colony. His efforts were rewarded with this incredible view of the whole colony.
Yaz Loukhal/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
11/25 The humpback calf by Wayne Osborn, Australia
Wayne spotted this male humpback calf and its mother while diving off the Vava’u Island group in the Kingdom of Tonga. The calf kept a curious eye on Wayne as it twisted and turned before returning to its mother periodically to suckle. She was relaxed and motionless 20 metres (65 feet) below.
Wayne Osborn/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
12/25 Mother knows best by Marion Vollborn, Germany
While on a bearwatching trip to the Nakina River in British Columbia, Canada Marion spotted a grizzly bear and her young cub approach a tree. The mother bear started to rub against the tree trunk and was followed shortly by the cub, imitating its mother.
Marion Vollborn/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
13/25 Big ears by Valeriy Maleev, Russia
Valeriywas on a summer expedition to the Mongolian part of the Gobi Desert when he happened upon a long-eared jerboa. As blood moves through the ears of these usually nocturnal animals, excess heat dissipates across the skin and so the jerboa is able to stay cool.
Valeriy Maleev/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
14/25 A pulsing sea by David Doubilet, USA
A school of red tooth triggerfish form a cloud of silhouettesabovea river of convict blennies flowing over the coral in Verde Island Passage, Philippines. The Passage, a strait that separates the islands of Luzon and Mindoro, is one of the most productive marine ecosystems in the world.
David Doubilet/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
15/25 Captive by Marcus Westberg, Sweden
A giant panda sits in its cage in a breeding centre in Shaanxi, China. With a growing wild population and no realistic plan of how to breed and raise pandas for rerelease into the wild rather than a life in captivity –not to mention lackof habitat being the largest barrier to the continued spread of the wild population –it is unclear how such centres will benefit the species.
Marcus Westberg/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
16/25 A suitable gift by Marco Valentini, Italy
Marco was in Hortobágyi National Park, Hungary whenhe spotted these kestrels displaying typical courtship behaviour. Here the female has just recovered an offering of a young green lizard from her suitor and in this touching moment she tenderly took hold of his claw.
Marco Valentini/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
17/25 Spot the reindeer by Francis De Andres, Spain
The conditions for photographing at the Norwegian archipelago Svalbard are extreme, but wildlife has adapted to the environment and its freezing temperatures. Francis found this composition of white arctic reindeer, which were observing him, both curious and charming.
Francis De Andres/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
18/25 Family get-togetherby Michael Schober, Austria
Marmots have become accustomed to the presence of humans in Hohe Tauern National Park, Austria and allow people to observe and photograph them at close range. This behaviour is beneficial for the marmots, as human company deters predators such as golden eagles.
Michael Schober/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
19/25 The surrogate mother by Martin Buzora, Canada
Elias Mugambi is a rangerat Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in northern Kenya. He often spends weeks awayfrom his familycaring for orphaned black rhinoslike Kitui here. The youngrhinos are in the sanctuary as a resultof poaching or because their mothers are blind and cannot care for them safely in the wild.
Martin Buzora/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
20/25 Winter’s tale by Valeriy Maleev, Russia
Valeriy encountered this Pallas’s cat while it was out hunting in the Mongolian grasslands –it was -42°C(-44°F)on that frosty day, but the fairy tale scene cancelled out the cold. Pallas’s cats are no bigger than a domestic cat and they stalk small rodents, birds and occasionally insects.
Valeriy Maleev/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
21/25 Bon appétit by Lucas Bustamente, Ecuador
Night hikes through the Ecuadorian jungle are one of Lucas’ favourite activities. With a keen interest in herpetology, he was overjoyed to spot this labiated rainfrog which are abundant in the region. It had just caught a baby tarantula and its comical expression said ‘caught in the act!’
Lucas Bustamente/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
22/25 Trustful by Ingo Ardnt, Germany
For over two years Ingo has followed the pumas of Torres del Paine National Park, in Patagonia, Chile. This female was so used to his presence that one day she fell asleep nearby. On awakening, she glanced at him in a familiar way, and he was able to capture this portrait of a completely relaxed puma.
Ingo Arndt/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
23/25 Teamwork by Jake Davis, USA
Jake was on a boat off the coast of Great Bear Rainforest, British Columbia, Canada where he watched humpback whales bubble-et feeding. Here the leader whale dives to locate the fish, once the fish are located, the rest of the pod swim in decreasing circles while blowing bubbles which create a net, trapping the fish.
Jake Davis/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
24/25 Matching outfits by Michel Zoghzoghi, Lebanon
Michel was in the Pantanal, Brazil photographing jaguars. One afternoon, as he was on the Três IrmãosRiver, a mother and her cub crossed right in front of his boat. He watched mesmerized as they left the water holding an anaconda with a very similar pattern to their own.
Michel Zoghzoghi/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
25/25 Tender play by Steve Levi, USA
It was early March and Steve spotted this mother polar bear and her two cubs after 10 days of looking. They had recently left their birthing den in WapuskNational Park, Canada, to begin the long journey to the sea ice so their mother could feed. After a nap the cubs were in a playful mood.
Steve Levi/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
1/25 Inquisitive by Audan Rikardsen, Norway
From a hide on the coast of northern Norway, it took Audunthree years of planning to capture this majestic bird of prey in its coastal environment. After some time, the golden eagle became curious of the camera and seemed to like being in the spotlight.
Audan Rikardsen/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
2/25 Training session by Stefan Christmann, Germany
When Stefan came across this penguin couple in Atka Bay, Antarctica, seemingly with an egg, he was surprised as it was too early in the season for egg-laing. Upon closer inspection he discovered the egg was a snowball! Perhaps the diligent couple were practicing egg transfer in preparation for when their real egg arrived. This is possibly the first time it has ever been witnessed and documented.
Stefan Christmann/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
3/25 What a poser by Clement Mwangi, Kenya
In Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve, Clement spent time observing this beautiful leopard as she soaked up the last warm rays of the setting sun. Clementis mindful to remember to take pleasure in life’s simple moments –being all too aware that sometimes, as a wildlife photographer, you can miss the exceptional while looking for the unusual.
Clement Mwangi/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
4/25 Beak to beak by Caludio Contreras Koob Mexico
Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve in the state of Yucatán is home to Mexico’s largest flock of Caribbean flamingos. This chick is less than five days old –it will stay in its nest less than a week before it joins a crèche of other youngsters who wander around the colonysearching for food.
Caludio Contreras Koob/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
5/25 Ocean’s signature by Angel Fitor, Spain
Angel took this image in the waters off ofAlicante, Spain. Immersed in a strong current, an otherwise slightly undulating salp chain twists and turning forming whimsical shapes. Salps move by contracting, which pumps water through their gelatinous bodies.
Angel Fitor/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
6/25 The unwelcome visitor by Salvador Colvée Nebot, Spain
Over several months, Salvador watched different species of bird use the dead flower spike of the agave in Valencia, Spain as a perch before descending to a small pond to drink. A pair of common kestrels were frequent visitors though each time they came magpies would hassle them.
Salvador Colvée Nebot/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
7/25 Losing the fight by Aaron Gekoski, UK
Orangutans have been used in degrading performances at Safari World, Bangkok –and many other locations –for decades. The shows were temporarily stopped in 2004 due to international pressure, but today the shows continue –twice a day, every day –with hundreds of people paying to watch the orangutans box, dance, play the drums and more.
Aaron Gekoski/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
8/25 Station squabble by Sam Rowley, UK
Sam discovered the best way to photograph the mice inhabiting London’s Underground was to lie on the platform and wait. He only saw them fight over scraps of food dropped by passengers a few times, possibly because it is so abundant. This fight lasted a split second, before one grabbed a crumb and they went their separate ways.
Sam Rowley/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
9/25 Dressed for dawn, Csaba Tökölyi, Hungary
Csaba had been in a hide all night photographing nocturnal species and their activities, but as the golden light of dawn reflected on the surface of the water, an egret in wonderful breeding plumage stopped close by. The elongated scapular feathers covered the bird as if it was wearing a gown.
Csaba Tökölyi/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
10/25 Meeting place by Yaz Loukhal, France
After a rough journey by sea to the remote Snow HillIsland off the east coast of the Antarctic Penisula, Yaz flew by helicopter and then trekked through thick snow to reach the emperor penguin colony. His efforts were rewarded with this incredible view of the whole colony.
Yaz Loukhal/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
11/25 The humpback calf by Wayne Osborn, Australia
Wayne spotted this male humpback calf and its mother while diving off the Vava’u Island group in the Kingdom of Tonga. The calf kept a curious eye on Wayne as it twisted and turned before returning to its mother periodically to suckle. She was relaxed and motionless 20 metres (65 feet) below.
Wayne Osborn/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
12/25 Mother knows best by Marion Vollborn, Germany
While on a bearwatching trip to the Nakina River in British Columbia, Canada Marion spotted a grizzly bear and her young cub approach a tree. The mother bear started to rub against the tree trunk and was followed shortly by the cub, imitating its mother.
Marion Vollborn/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
13/25 Big ears by Valeriy Maleev, Russia
Valeriywas on a summer expedition to the Mongolian part of the Gobi Desert when he happened upon a long-eared jerboa. As blood moves through the ears of these usually nocturnal animals, excess heat dissipates across the skin and so the jerboa is able to stay cool.
Valeriy Maleev/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
14/25 A pulsing sea by David Doubilet, USA
A school of red tooth triggerfish form a cloud of silhouettesabovea river of convict blennies flowing over the coral in Verde Island Passage, Philippines. The Passage, a strait that separates the islands of Luzon and Mindoro, is one of the most productive marine ecosystems in the world.
David Doubilet/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
15/25 Captive by Marcus Westberg, Sweden
A giant panda sits in its cage in a breeding centre in Shaanxi, China. With a growing wild population and no realistic plan of how to breed and raise pandas for rerelease into the wild rather than a life in captivity –not to mention lackof habitat being the largest barrier to the continued spread of the wild population –it is unclear how such centres will benefit the species.
Marcus Westberg/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
16/25 A suitable gift by Marco Valentini, Italy
Marco was in Hortobágyi National Park, Hungary whenhe spotted these kestrels displaying typical courtship behaviour. Here the female has just recovered an offering of a young green lizard from her suitor and in this touching moment she tenderly took hold of his claw.
Marco Valentini/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
17/25 Spot the reindeer by Francis De Andres, Spain
The conditions for photographing at the Norwegian archipelago Svalbard are extreme, but wildlife has adapted to the environment and its freezing temperatures. Francis found this composition of white arctic reindeer, which were observing him, both curious and charming.
Francis De Andres/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
18/25 Family get-togetherby Michael Schober, Austria
Marmots have become accustomed to the presence of humans in Hohe Tauern National Park, Austria and allow people to observe and photograph them at close range. This behaviour is beneficial for the marmots, as human company deters predators such as golden eagles.
Michael Schober/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
19/25 The surrogate mother by Martin Buzora, Canada
Elias Mugambi is a rangerat Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in northern Kenya. He often spends weeks awayfrom his familycaring for orphaned black rhinoslike Kitui here. The youngrhinos are in the sanctuary as a resultof poaching or because their mothers are blind and cannot care for them safely in the wild.
Martin Buzora/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
20/25 Winter’s tale by Valeriy Maleev, Russia
Valeriy encountered this Pallas’s cat while it was out hunting in the Mongolian grasslands –it was -42°C(-44°F)on that frosty day, but the fairy tale scene cancelled out the cold. Pallas’s cats are no bigger than a domestic cat and they stalk small rodents, birds and occasionally insects.
Valeriy Maleev/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
21/25 Bon appétit by Lucas Bustamente, Ecuador
Night hikes through the Ecuadorian jungle are one of Lucas’ favourite activities. With a keen interest in herpetology, he was overjoyed to spot this labiated rainfrog which are abundant in the region. It had just caught a baby tarantula and its comical expression said ‘caught in the act!’
Lucas Bustamente/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
22/25 Trustful by Ingo Ardnt, Germany
For over two years Ingo has followed the pumas of Torres del Paine National Park, in Patagonia, Chile. This female was so used to his presence that one day she fell asleep nearby. On awakening, she glanced at him in a familiar way, and he was able to capture this portrait of a completely relaxed puma.
Ingo Arndt/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
23/25 Teamwork by Jake Davis, USA
Jake was on a boat off the coast of Great Bear Rainforest, British Columbia, Canada where he watched humpback whales bubble-et feeding. Here the leader whale dives to locate the fish, once the fish are located, the rest of the pod swim in decreasing circles while blowing bubbles which create a net, trapping the fish.
Jake Davis/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
24/25 Matching outfits by Michel Zoghzoghi, Lebanon
Michel was in the Pantanal, Brazil photographing jaguars. One afternoon, as he was on the Três IrmãosRiver, a mother and her cub crossed right in front of his boat. He watched mesmerized as they left the water holding an anaconda with a very similar pattern to their own.
Michel Zoghzoghi/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
25/25 Tender play by Steve Levi, USA
It was early March and Steve spotted this mother polar bear and her two cubs after 10 days of looking. They had recently left their birthing den in WapuskNational Park, Canada, to begin the long journey to the sea ice so their mother could feed. After a nap the cubs were in a playful mood.
Steve Levi/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Wild beavers became extinct from hunting in Britain about four centuries ago, until a colony – believed to have escaped from captivity in about 2005 – was spotted along the Devon river.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs was initially concerned as it had not sanctioned the release of beavers into the wild and was worried about disease.
After the animals were tested as healthy, Natural England allowed the beavers to live freely along the river as part of a five-year trial to assess whether they positively affect the environment.
Devon Wildlife Trust’s Mark Elliott said the mammals have created “beautiful areas of new habitat”, benefiting water voles, otters and wading birds such as snipe and woodcock.
“It’s been really beneficial from a conservation point of view,” he said.
However, Prof Brazier said there are some downsides, such as beavers targeting orchard trees and causing localised flooding for landowners.
Claire Robinson from the National Farmers’ Union said there are concerns about the “potential damage to farmland and the landscape caused by [beavers’] physical activities”.
She said: “It is crucial that farmers have the tools to manage any impacts a beaver reintroduction could have.”
The trial for the Devon beavers will come to an end this year.
Additional reporting by Press Association