European Beaver
Beaver pho34.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Castoridae
Genus: Castor
Species: C. fiber
Binomial name
Castor fiber
Linnaeus, 1758

The European Beaver (Castor fiber) is an endangered aquatic mammal which was hunted almost to extinction in Europe, both for fur and for castoreum, a secretion of its scent gland believed to have medicinal properties.[1] However, this beaver is now being re-introduced throughout Europe. Several thousand live on the Elbe, the Rhone, the Danube and in parts of Scandinavia. They have been reintroduced in Bavaria and The Netherlands and are tending to spread to new locations.[2] The beaver became extinct in Britain in the sixteenth century, but there is now a project which is reintroducing the species to the country. Six European Beavers will be released into a lakeside area in Gloucestershire and allowed to roam wild.[3] There are also plans to bring the beaver to Scotland.[4]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Gippoliti (2002). "Castor fiber". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2006. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 11 May 2006.  Database entry includes justification for why this species is near threatened
  2. ^ "Europäischer Biber". WWF Österreich. Retrieved August 24.  Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help); Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  3. ^ "Beavers in 'wild' after centuries". BBC News. 2005-10-28.  Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ The Scottish Beavers Network