Recently, the fate of a beaver raised in captivity in Massachusetts, USA has touched the hearts of many people, but thanks to the personal intervention of the state governor, an ongoing lawsuit over whether the beaver must be released into the wild has finally come to a resolution.
The beaver, named “Nibi,” was found by a concerned citizen approximately two years ago in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, when it was just about a week old. It was swiftly taken to the nearby Newhouse Wildlife Rescue center for care.
Since then, Nibi, the orphaned beaver, has been residing in the center where it received professional and caring attention from the staff. Nibi’s adorable nature quickly turned it into a social media star for the center.
However, Nibi was recently caught in an unexpected legal battle regarding whether it should be released back into the wild or allowed to stay with the rescuers who have cared for it since infancy.
Fortunately, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey intervened in the lawsuit just before the judge’s ruling, granting permission for Nibi to remain at the Newhouse Wildlife Rescue center, bringing an end to the dispute.
Governor Healey announced last Thursday that Nibi had captured the hearts of people in Massachusetts and across the nation, including her own. She declared, “I am pleased to announce that we have issued a permit for Nibi to continue receiving care at the wildlife rescue center, inspiring people to protect our natural world.”
Following the governor’s decision, the Newhouse Wildlife Rescue center expressed deep gratitude for her action.
The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, also known as MassWildlife, believed that at the age of two, Nibi should be independent and in good health, therefore, it should be reintroduced into the wild.
However, the Newhouse Wildlife Rescue center opposed this notion, expressing concerns that releasing Nibi before the winter could put it in danger as it has been solely cared for by humans and may not be equipped to survive in the wild.
The center emphasized that Nibi does not know how to build dams, nests, or store food, making it risky to release it into the wilderness to spend the winter alone. They stated, “When we determine an animal cannot thrive in the wild, we do not release them.”
Jane Newhouse, the founder of the center, mentioned their unsuccessful attempts to find Nibi’s parents or a mate when they first took in the beaver. She explained, “It seems to only enjoy the company of humans and shows no interest in its kind or the wilderness.”
She also mentioned reaching out to MassWildlife to apply for an “Animal Ambassador” permit for Nibi so it could be taken to schools, libraries, and government institutions to raise awareness about this important species. To her surprise, the application was rejected, and the order to release Nibi into the wild followed.
Notably, the legal battle over this adorable internet-famous beaver has garnered attention from many netizens. An online petition to prevent Nibi from being released gathered over 1.2 million signatures within 24 hours, including support from several state legislators.
Newhouse mentioned that beavers typically leave their parents and begin independent life between two to three years old, indicating that Nibi may show interest in returning to the wild next year, making it a good time for release. However, their current priority is ensuring Nibi’s safety.