Help the development of the site, sharing the article with friends!
There are currently two species of beaver, the European or Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) and the American (Castor canadensis). They are morphologically similar species, so it is impossible to distinguish them with the naked eye. However, between the two there is a complete reproductive isolation, since they have different numbers of chromosomes, so the crossing between the two is not possible.
The European beaver is the one that we can currently find in the Iberian Peninsula, which despite being extinct in the 19th century, today we can find it again distributed throughout the country. If you want to know if there are beavers in Spain or notContinue reading this interesting Green Ecologist article in which we will talk in detail about the European beaver.
Are there beavers in Spain or not?
The european beaverCastor fiber) It was widely distributed throughout the Asian and European continents, it inhabited the Iberian Peninsula without interruption for more than a million years until modern times. Its great value, either for its meat (food, for example, by Catholic Christians on Fridays in Lent), the castoreum (used for creating perfumes and making medicines) and its skin (for making coats and hats. ) caused this animal to be chased until it was exterminated in the s. XIX by human pressure for the destruction of their natural habitat, according to official sources.
The beaver is protected in Spain since 1986, but despite the fact that on this date the species was extinct in this country, it did not receive any interest from any administration to promote its rescue from extinction, although they had a legal obligation from the Habitats Directive.
In 2003 the species reappeared in Spain through a release without administrative authorization of 18 beavers from Bavaria, Germany, in the areas near several rivers belonging to the Ebro basin (Aragón, Arga and Ebro). However, the central government, as well as the Communities of Aragón, La Rioja and Navarra, instead of focusing on their obligation to recover the species, focused on the illegality of the release of beavers, and they spent approximately 10 years killing beaver specimens, exceeding the figure of 200 specimens.
It was not until 2022 when the European Commission communicated to the Ministry of Ecological Transition of the Spanish Government, and this to the governments of the communities, that the expected administrative regularization of the European beaver in Spain finally took place. The European beaver is of the first reintroduced species on the European continent and in the world.
Where do beavers live in Spain
Beavers are semi-aquatic animals, inhabit aquatic environments, lakes and rivers, where they find food and have the possibility to build their shelters. They are great builders, they are capable of making channels for the creation of artificial lakes and erecting dams to protect their burrows. Since the first signs of its presence of the European beaver began to be seen in March 2003, thanks to foraging remains, footsteps, slides, burrows, castoreum marks or excrement.
In the Ebro basin, the built dikes and the felled trees, quickly hinted that it was the presence of beavers. In Aragon, excreta and footprints of an unknown species at that time were also tracked on the peninsula, despite the fact that this species is native to it. In addition, in 2022, it was suggested that hundreds of beaver specimens have spread along the rivers, creating stable populations in Aragon, Navarra and La Rioja.
In conclusion, it is currently known that, in Spain, there is the presence of beavers in the Ebro, Navarra, La Rioja and Zaragoza. A victory for all biodiversity, since the presence of beavers in Spain makes ecosystems more stable, especially freshwater aquatic ecosystems, and there is a greater diversity of species.
Protection of beavers in Spain
The Castor fiber is a native species, of priority interest and strictly protected in Spain, so it is necessary for it to be protected that Special Conservation Zones (ZEC) be designated within the Natura 2000 Network.
The protection of the European beaver in Spain It comes derived from the country's accession to the European Union, so this led to the ratification of the Berne Convention, and its inclusion as a species, through the publication in the Official State Gazette (both in 1986 and 1988), and later the approval of Directive 92/43 / EEC known as the “Habitats Directive”.
The aforementioned directive is the legal regulatory framework that protects species and habitats of community interest within the European Union.
If you want to read more articles similar to Are there beavers in Spain?, we recommend that you enter our category of Animal Curiosities.
Bibliography- Echegaray, J., Pérez de Obanos, C. & Artika, E. (2022). FAQ / Frequently asked questions about the European beaver (Castorfiber). Dissemination manual and information treatment guide. 55 pp. Available at: https://www.dropbox.com/s/imnhhufulcrdmrc/Manual%20Castor%20FAQ.pdf?dl=0
