Investigation by Jamie Mann in THE FERRET
NatureScot has been accused of failing to ensure that beavers are being killed humanely, with just one autopsy performed on the protected species last year despite previous evidence that animals have died in pain.
Data obtained by The Ferret under freedom of information law shows that one beaver was given to NatureScot for post mortem in 2022, compared to four in 2021 – all by members of the public.
The wildlife agency grants licences to beaver controllers to kill the animals, and asks them to hand over the carcasses so it can check they have been killed humanely. But between 2019 and 2021, just four of 268 beavers killed by controllers were handed over for autopsy.
We previously revealed that shot beavers have suffered slow, painful deaths and their kits [babies] were left to starve, according to official port-mortem reports.
Animal welfare groups said they were “appalled” by the low numbers of post mortems, which NatureScot claims are essential to ensure the welfare of beavers. Campaigners called for controllers to lose their permits if they fail to hand over carcasses for autopsy.
NatureScot data also shows that the vast majority of beavers were shot over water in recent years, which the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland and others say should be banned. They argue that the practice risks the animals being wounded by ricocheting bullets, causing them to drown or die in pain.
Full story in The Ferret