September 2012. The latest report on beaver ecology as part of the Scottish Beaver Trial has been published by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH).
A group of European beavers was reintroduced to Knapdale forest near Lochgilphead in 2009, as part of the Scottish Beaver Trial, at a cost of some £2 million. Since then SNH has been closely monitoring the beavers, and their effects on the environment, in partnership with a number of other independent organisations. The results of this monitoring will help inform the Scottish Government's decisions about the future of beavers in Scotland, following the trial, including whether they should be permanently reintroduced.
The report summarises the results of monitoring work carried out on the beavers themselves over the first two years of the trial, from their release in May 2009 until June 2011. It also reports on the use of the site by otters. The work was carried out by the Wildlife Conservation Unit at the University of Oxford (WildCRU) in partnership with SNH staff, largely based on observations collected by Scottish Beaver Trial field staff.
Beaver numbers
A total of fifteen beavers in five families or pairs were released during the first year of the trial, and one further animal during the second year of the trial. Three deaths, all males, were recorded during the first year. A further three animals were also classified as ‘missing' (fate unknown) by the end of the first year. No further deaths were recorded during the second year of the trial but one further animal was recorded as missing. Two of the missing animals were sub-adults. As of June 2011, of the 16 animals released over 2009 and 2010, nine were believed to be alive and present in the release area. Two wild-born yearling animals, born in 2010, were also present.
A total of fifteen beavers in five families or pairs were released during the first year of the trial, and one further animal during the second year of the trial. Three deaths, all males, were recorded during the first year. A further three animals were also classified as ‘missing' (fate unknown) by the end of the first year. No further deaths were recorded during the second year of the trial but one further animal was recorded as missing. Two of the missing animals were sub-adults. As of June 2011, of the 16 animals released over 2009 and 2010, nine were believed to be alive and present in the release area. Two wild-born yearling animals, born in 2010, were also present.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment
You only need to enter your comment once! Comments will appear once they have been moderated. This is so as to stop the would-be comedian who has been spamming the comments here with inane and often offensive remarks. You know who you are!