Royal Zoological Society of Scotland denies 'concealing' beavers
Claims that they have been "concealing" the whereabouts of a Tayside beaver have been rubbished by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS).
- By Sandra Gray
- Published in the Courier : 05.03.11
- Published online : 05.03.11 @ 08.02am
The Scottish Wild Beaver Group had previously claimed that the charity had failed to disclose to them the exact location of Erica, a beaver that was trapped on the River Ericht by Scottish Natural Heritage last year.
They had raised their concerns after apparently paying £80 to adopt the animal as a mascot for the Alyth Beaver Scout group, who wanted to visit Erica at her home.
But a spokeswoman from the RZSS said that, while someone had inquired about adopting the animal, there had never been any official confirmation.
She said, "Our adoption department has never had any contact from the Alyth Beaver Scout group.
"Our understanding is that a representative from the Scottish Wild Beaver Group made contact with our adoptions department without declaring themselves and asked one of the team to slot the name Eric (the beaver's original name before it was found she was a female) onto paperwork accompanying a standard beaver adoption certificate."
Following their inquiries into adopting Erica, the group had been told the animal may have become part of the Knapdale scheme, but three weeks after receiving that information, received news from the RZSS that they were housing the beaver and it was not on display.
As a result of the "disappointment" of Alyth Beaver Scouts that they would not be able to visit their new mascot, the spokeswoman offered them the opportunity to see some of the other animals in their collections.
"If they would like to get in touch, we would be happy to talk to them directly and would be delighted to organise a complementary trip for them to Edinburgh Zoo, or to the Highland Wildlife Park in Kingussie, to visit our beavers on display there," she added.
Photo used under Creative Commons licence courtesy Flickr user gainesp2003.
10.03am - 05.03.2011 Louise Ramsay - Alyth, Scotland Report This
I'm sorry to say that RZSS have not told the truth. We have the adoption certificate, for which we paid £80. A photograph of it has already been in the Blairgowrie Advertiser, and on our Facebook Group "Save the Free Beavers of the Tay". Louise Ramsay, SWBG
10.42am - 05.03.2011 Paul - Blairgowrie, Scotland Report This
This is very strange. I can confirm that the Scottish Wild Beaver Group have adopted Eric/Erica the beaver on behalf of the Alyth Beaver scouts. A photogragh of the adoption papers are on open display on the save the free beavers of the tay facegroup group ! Yet another PR disaster for RZSS/SNH
10.45am - 05.03.2011 Mike Stirling - Forfar, Scotland Report This
Sounds like RZSS is playing along with Silly Not Helpful... just put the beaver back and save yourselves a whole LOAD of further embarrasment!
02.38pm - 05.03.2011 Jeremy Goodwin - Houston, Texas Report This
If you are not concealing a female beaver trapped from the Ericht, it would be really easy to show it to someone who asked. Are you ashamed of your facilities for those beavers not on public display or do you not know where the beaver is located? Why the prevarication?
08.28pm - 07.03.2011 Louise Ramsay - alyth, Perthshire Report This
Sent a photograph of the adoption certificate in today. Perhaps it will appear tomorrow. We didn't say the Alyth beavers adopted her, we said we SWBG adopted her on behalf of them. Great about the free trip though but pity they can't see her! Still don't know where she is....
06.57am - 13.03.2011 Louise Ramsay - Alyth, Scotland Report This
Also worth noting, that RZSS may say they deny concealing beavers but they nevertheless have confirmed to us that Erica is not on display and that they "will not be issuing any more information re. this." (their words). So ..hmm....if not concealing, then what?
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