Fig was sadly found shot in the Perthshire area in January 2023.
A male adult beaver, who was rescued by the Scottish SPCA back in 2023, is now thriving this International Beaver Day.
The beaver, affectionately named Fig by the charity, was discovered by a member of the public after being shot in the face – which took out his top two incisors, wounded his face and left him peppered with shrapnel.
He was taken to the National Wildlife Rescue Centre at Fishcross, Alloa, where he underwent an extensive rehabilitation programme. Thankfully, the root wasn’t damaged so his teeth grew back while he was being cared for by the team at the centre.
Fig was successfully released back into the wild in March 2023 at the Argaty Red Kites Centre in Doune – in collaboration with the Beaver Trust. He was released alongside a female beaver who was in the care of the Trust.
A happy ending to a horrible incident
Sean Meechan, Wildlife Operations Lead at the Scottish SPCA, said: “We were so pleased we were able to release Fig after his period of rehabilitation at our National Wildlife Rescue Centre. Under the care of our dedicated team, Fig was able to go from strength to strength and is now thriving once more out in the wild. This was thankfully a happy ending to a horrible incident. A massive thank you to the Beaver Trust and the team at Argaty Red Kites who helped with Fig’s release.”
Dr Roisin Campbell-Palmer, Head of Restoration at the Beaver Trust, said: “Fig’s journey is a brilliant example of how careful rehabilitation and welfare-led translocation can deliver long-term success. Seeing him find a mate and raise young is exactly what we hope for; it shows he’s healthy, settled and able to express natural behaviours, which is at the heart of everything we do.”
Tom Bowser, of Argaty Red Kites, added: “We were so pleased to be able to help release Fig and allow him a second chance at life in the wild. I’m so grateful to the Scottish SPCA and Beaver Trust for their amazing work to get him back where he belongs.”
Help ensure Scotland is at the forefront of animal welfare
The Scottish SPCA’s key mission is to safeguard the welfare of all of Scotland’s animals, and we are tirelessly working to also make this a top priority for parliamentarians. Our recently published Manifesto outlines four key asks which will help ensure Scotland is at the forefront of animal welfare. Delivering on these asks is crucial to prevent future harm and tackle repeat offending, which will help achieve our mission to make Scotland the best place for an animal to call home. Read our full Manifesto and sign our petition to show your support.
To report a concern of cruelty, visit our contact us page.
