Heart problems mean it's an end to wild living for beaver

Published on Tuesday 9 March 2010 21:50

ONE of ten Norwegian beavers let loose in Scotland as part of a reintroduction programme has been taken permanently into captivity after it developed heart problems.

• Three Norwegian beaver families were released in Knapdale Forest in May last year – two of them are still thriving

Nine months after the large rodent, known as Andreas Bjorn, was released into the wilds of Knapdale Forest in Argyll, it has been recaptured and rehomed in Edinburgh Zoo, The Scotsman can reveal.

A routine health check showed the creature had heart problems, which project leaders believe had been an underlying condition not picked up in initial tests.

As a result, it became underweight and out of condition. Now it will spend the rest of its life in captivity.

However, two further beavers, which have been held at the Highland Wildlife Park as a contingency measure, are to be released into the forest later this year as part of the trial project.

As part of the Scottish Beaver Trial, run by the Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), three beaver families were set free in Knapdale Forest in May last year.

Two families have settled in well, but the third immediately showed problems, and dispersed soon after being let out into the wild.

Andreas Bjorn is the male from this group. The two females, Gunn-Rita and Mary-Lou, are still missing.

Roisin Campbell-Palmer, the RZSS beaver project leader, said Andreas Bjorn had settled in well at Edinburgh Zoo and had put on weight.

"At the time of release, all animals were considered healthy, but this beaver has unfortunately had an underlying health issue which we could not have foreseen," she said.

She said there were plans to pair him up with a female beaver from the captive stock at the zoo in the next few weeks. And she added that, although one family had encountered "a number of setbacks", the remaining two families were "thriving in their new environment".

"These groups are both exhibiting very natural beaver behaviour, including building dams and lodges," she said.

"Both groups had also built up large food caches to see them through the winter months and many of these animals have been recorded as in prime condition, gaining weight since their release."

Simon Jones, the Scottish Beaver Trial project manager, said fatalities and illness had been considered as part of the project planning.

Under the trial's licence from the Scottish Government, the project partners are permitted to release up to four beaver families into the wild.

As three families were released last May, the project team is now planning for the release of a fourth pair using contingency animals that have completed quarantine and have been held at the Highland Wildlife Park.

Mr Jones said: "Creating a fourth family unit will enhance the opportunities to gather useful data to provide an even better understanding of the effect this trial has had on the Scottish environment.

"This has been approved by the Scottish Government following advice from Scottish Natural Heritage, which is co-ordinating the independent scientific monitoring of the trial, and has the support of host partner, Forestry Commission Scotland."

BACK AFTER FOUR CENTURIES

BEAVERS were wiped out in Scotland 400 year ago after they were hunted for their pelts.

Efforts to reintroduce the animals sparked considerable controversy. Critics were concerned the large-toothed rodents would damage the countryside and dam up important rivers for migratory fish.

However, conservationists argue that the animals have a positive impact on forest habitats. By felling trees and building dams, they say creatures such as otters, water shrews and dragonflies are more likely to thrive, with the woodland returned to a more natural state.

The Scottish Beaver Trial, granted a licence by the Scottish Government in May 2008, will last five years.

If the 1.8 million project is successful, the animals could be released in other parts of Scotland.

If it fails, the animals will be removed.