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Olivier Rubbers

Olivier Rubbers

Belgian environmental activist known for "beaver bombing"—illegally reintroducing Eurasian beavers to Belgium starting in 1998 to restore ecosystems.

Jul 2, 2026

Snap Judgment

Snap Judgment

The Belgian Beaver Bandit - Snap Classic

Jul 2 · 49m

speaker_1NARRATOR
5:00
He called around and actually got in touch with a Bavarian beaver supplier, who said he was happy to help him out as long as he got the necessary paperwork.
Olivier Rubbers
Olivier RubbersGUEST
5:10
I have spent many days to, to, to, to build up an official project.
Olivier Rubbers
Olivier RubbersGUEST
5:15
And so I wrote to the minister at the time of nature conservation, and I said, "Okay, look, the beaver, according to the Belgian law, is indigenous, is protected.
Olivier Rubbers
Olivier RubbersGUEST
5:25
Let's bring this animal back." [upbeat music] And, and my idea in my dreams, I was introducing beavers with the minister.
Olivier Rubbers
Olivier RubbersGUEST
5:34
We were shaking hands, and we say, "Oh, great.
Olivier Rubbers
Olivier RubbersGUEST
5:36
The beaver is back in Belgium," and I was shaking his hand.
Olivier Rubbers
Olivier RubbersGUEST
5:39
In my dreams that, that is what would have happened.

11 MINS LATER

speaker_1NARRATOR
16:46
The two men pulled a 180 and drove over 100 miles in the opposite direction to Eastern Belgium.

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