Turnip arrived at the Scottish SPCA National Wildlife Rescue Centre in Fishcross last May as an orphaned young kit.
A male beaver who spent half a year being cared for by the Scottish SPCA is now thriving at a sanctuary in Cornwall.
Turnip arrived at the Scottish SPCA National Wildlife Rescue Centre in Fishcross, Alloa, in May 2024 after being washed down river after a storm.
Weighing 860g, Turnip was no more than a week or two old when he came into the care of the centre. The team spent dedicated time with him, giving him intensive care and hand-rearing him.
As he grew and continued to develop, he was moved into a larger pen and fed a mix of items, including his favourite – sweet potato and carrots. He was also given larger water baths so he could begin swimming and the staff worked hard to ensure natural behaviours were being encouraged.
After his six-month stint Turnip left the centre in November 2024, weighing 10kg, for his new home at Cornish Seal Sanctuary. He has continued to thrive there ever since and has since been joined by female beaver Parsnip, who spent a short time at Flamingo Land and Forestry England’s Cropton Forest enclosure before her arrival at the Sanctuary.
Together, Turnip and Parsnip will have the opportunity to establish their own territories and continue the Sanctuary’s important work in caring for orphaned beaver kits.
Sean Meechan, Wildlife Operations Lead at the National Wildlife Rescue Centre, said: “We have had several injured beavers come to our National Wildlife Rescue Centre to undergo rehabilitation prior to release, but Turnip was the first infant we received and our team’s tireless efforts, hard work and care to rear him are rewarded with news that he is doing so well.”
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