By Daily Mail ReporterLast updated at 9:11 PM on 07th August 2009
Police have been asked to investigate the disappearance of a beaver days after it was introduced in to the wild, it was disclosed today.
The adult female disappeared after it was released at Creag Mhor, in Knapdale Forest, Mid-Argyll, with its two other family members.
Gunshots were heard around the time of its disappearance, and the police have now been contacted.
The beaver was released with 10 others in a programme to reintroduce the species to Scotland after a 400-year absence.
Shortly after its disappearance, the adult male of the family went missing, followed by the juvenile female.
The male has since been spotted, and traps will be put in place with a view to returning it to its loch.
The juvenile, which appeared to be following its father's scent, has yet to be located.The Scottish Beaver Trial is a partnership project run by Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT), the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) and host partner Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS).
Two families of four and one of three were released in Knapdale Forest in May.A young male died shortly after release into Loch Linne, although post-mortem results proved inconclusive.
Volunteers and field staff said the remaining beavers appeared in good health.
Simon Jones, Scottish Beaver Trial project manager, said: 'These are wild animals and we expected some movement which is one of the reasons why they are monitored so closely.
'Field staff and volunteers have been working around the clock in an effort to track the missing beavers.'
Of the adult female, he added: 'We are obviously concerned that there could to be a link between her disappearance and the unauthorised shooting and the local police have been informed.
'We suspect that the noise from the shooting has disturbed these animals even if no direct link between the shooting and disappearance is found.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1204945/Missing-Beavers-returned-Scotland-time-500-years-shot.html#ixzz0NcuYwzRc
See also:
- Beaver 'shot' days after release into wild after 400-year absence - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/5987215/Beaver-shot-days-after-release-into-wild-after-400-year-absence.html
- Plan to reintroduce beavers in disarray amid mystery shots - http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article6741770.ece
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