Nibi the beloved diva beaver will stay with rescuers but a court will rule if she should be released into wild

Nibi the beaver was rescued as a baby from a highway in Massachusetts two years ago. The rescuers and many people across the world love her to the extent that they are heartbroken at the prospect of her being released back into the wild.

The minor internet celebrity's fate became such a big issue that even the governor of the US state chimed in. On Friday (Oct 4), the Massachusetts Supreme Court will decide if the dam-building animal will have to say goodbye to her humans.

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The beautiful story of Nibi the 'diva' beaver

Nibi was an orphan beaver baby when she was rescued by Newhouse Wildlife Rescue. She became a sensation over the years at the rescue centre with her friendly behaviour and cute antics. She even started building dams indoors with twigs at the rescue centre: after all, she's a beaver, right?

But where does she belong, under human care, or in the wild? She hasn't seen a winter yet and will have to be released into the wild if she's to survive the vagaries of weather. That's one school of thought, anyway. But others feel that she may not be able to survive in the wild.

It is known that animals in captivity when released back into the wild, have a low survival chance. Sometimes, exposure to areas larger than their cages or enclosuresmakes it difficult for them to navigate, often leading their hearts to exert too much, sometimes with fatal consequences. The other causes of death are predators, infections and the weather

The court battle over Nibi the beaver

On Tuesday (Oct 1), Newhouse Rescue managed to get an injunction from the release of Nibi into the wild. The rescue house and some 25,000 others who signed online petitions want her to stay with her caregivers. Even Governor Maura Healey appeared to be favouring Nibi to stay with the rescuers, but being a protected species, Nibi will have to eventually abide by the laws of the land.

Her fate will be decided on Friday when a court reviews the case filed by the rescue house against MassWildlife, the wildlife agency of the eastern US state.

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As per Jane Newhouse, the founder of the rescue house, Nibi might not survive in the wild, because efforts to make her socialise with other beavers had failed. Nibi, it appears, loves humans more.

Newhouse is worried that releasing Nibi into the wild might lead to her death, as she is not skilled at building a lodge, storing food or navigating a harsh winter.

Nibi now lives in a big enclosure with a pool, with round-the-clock food and other care and affection from her rescuers.

All that could change on Friday.

(With inputs from agencies)