One of the first beavers to be released into the wild in a new government scheme has died due to the lack of rain in Dorset.
The male animal died searching for a new stream after the lack of rain led his freshwater habitat to dry up.
He made his way to the sea but died after ingesting too much saltwater.
The animal’s body was found washed up in Swanage Bay.
Water levels are extremely low across the UK after four heatwaves so far this summer.
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It led to four water firms to introduce a hosepipe ban for more than 8.5million people.
The beaver was one of four set free in a lake and wetland area in Studland in March in a historic first.
They were the first to be released into the wild in England under a government license in efforts to increase biodiversity.
Previously, licenses had only been granted for the animals to be released to enclosures.
According to the National Trust’s beaver project officer, Gen Crisford, the beavers’ wetland area had completely dried up, forcing the male and female partners to leave their habitat to find a new spot.
They are still searching for the missing female partner.
Once she has been located they will consider finding her a new mate.
Ms Crisford said: ‘It is drier at Studland than we have ever seen it. It’s extreme.
‘The male went round Old Harry Rocks, which is a long way, looking for another stream.
‘They’re freshwater animals. They do use the sea to migrate sometimes and to explore the area but they’re not really designed to spend a long time in the sea and if they ingest it they can die from that.
‘It is really sad to have lost one of our original four, but this is life and nature. They are wild animals and these things happen.
‘We are still trying to determine where the female has gone. It can be a bit of a needle in the haystack in summer because following feeding and trail signs is harder when everything is so green.
‘A lot has happened since the release, some of it really positive and some of it isn’t as nice.’
The National Trust are aiming to establish a viable beaver population at the Purbeck Nature Reserve’s Little Sea in Dorset and hope they will spread and create beaver wetlands.
Wessex Water, which covers Dorset, recorded the second driest five-month period from March to July this year.
Their reservoirs are on average 57% full.
Water shortfalls across England were described as ‘nationally significant’ by the National Drought Group last week.
The drought has hit crop yields, reduced feed for livestock and damaged wetlands and river wildlife, the group said.
Despite widespread heavy rain in July, the month was still the fifth warmest on record.
By 2042, the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has a statutory target to develop 500,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat outside of protected sites.
In a policy paper published in February, Defra said that licensed releases need to ‘demonstrate clear environmental benefits’ and follow engagement with local landowners.
Natural England is currently considering around 50 expressions of interest for wild beaver releases.
Among them was an application from Cornwall Wildlife Trust, which is looking to release the species at Helman Tor as part of an £800,000 project.
It said its site had been transformed since two beavers thought to have been illegally set free arrived and built dams.
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