The first newborn beavers born in the wild since their re-introduction to the UK last year have been spotted by officials in a Scottish forest.
At least two kits, estimated to be eight weeks old and belonging to different family groups, have been seen in Knapdale Forest in Argyll.
A total of 11 beavers were brought to Scotland from Norway last year as part of the Scottish Beaver Trial.
Beavers were hunted to extinction in the UK 400 years ago.
Some feral beavers have been known to exist in the wild as a result of being released by people who owned them as pets.
Christian Robstad, beaver field officer for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, described seeing the new arrivals was an "amazing" experience.
"After weeks of patient observation, we were finally rewarded with not just one kit being spotted but a second kit from a different family group as well," he said.
"The first emerged as part of a 'family outing' with its parents and older sister close by to offer additional protection.
"It kept close to the edge of the loch and called out to its family for reassurance while it began to learn to forage for food."
The reintroduction is a partnership between the society and the Scottish Wildlife Trust.
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