title: Captive care and welfare considerations for beavers.
abstract: Beavers (Castor spp.) tend not to be a commonly held species and little published material exists relating to their captive care. We review published material and discuss husbandry issues taking into account the requirements of wild beavers. As social mammals with complex chemical communication systems and with such an ability to modify their environments, studies of wild counterparts suggest the captive requirements of beavers may actually be more sophisticated than generally perceived. Common field techniques may have practical application in the captive setting. Their widespread utilisation in conservation, including reintroductions, translocations and habitat management, also requires components of captive care. As welfare science advances there is increasing pressure on captive collections to improve standards and justify the keeping of animals. Conservation science is increasingly challenged to address individual welfare standards. Further research focusing on the captive care of beavers is required.
authors: Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, Conservation Programmes, 134 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom; Department of Environmental and Health Studies, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Telemark University College, i Bø Telemark, Norway.
authors: Róisín
authors: R
authors: Campbell-Palmer
authors: Frank
authors: F
authors: Rosell
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000592:standards*; D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D012377:Rodentia / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Castor; captivity; conservation; husbandry; reintroduction; well-being