Activities

 EU LIFE project for recovery of European mink

EU LIFE Project 2001 - 2004

1. Short Summary
Recovery of mustela lutreola in Estonia: Captive and island populations

Mustela lutreola (European mink) is a critically endangered carnivore endemic for Europe. The main reason behind its dramatic decline is competition with and intra-guild aggression by an alien species Mustela vison. The same factor is rapidly driving the species to extinction in the few countries still having tiny fragments of its remaining population. Therefore, the species is forecasted to become extinct in the whole continent in the near future unless radical conservation efforts are made immediately and attain success.

The species is included in the EU Habitats Directive and in the Bern Convention.

The current project is unique in Europe and will provide a guarantee to the survival of the species even once it has entirely vanished elsewhere.

The project is supported by IUCN Species Survival Committee Mustelid, Viverrid and Procynoid Specialist Group and follows the IUCN Guidelines for Re-introduction.

The objectives of the project are:

1. to establish, on the basis of the already existing breeding stock in Tallinn Zoo (Estonia), a viable captive population of Mustela lutreola capable of maintaining 90% of the genetic diversity of the species for 25 years at least;
2. to establish a second viable island population of Mustela lutreola in Estonian island Saaremaa inaccessible to Mustela vison (the island belongs to Western Estonian Archipelago Biosphere Reserve).

The project builds on the long experience (since 1983) of captive breeding and management of the species in Tallinn Zoo and on preparatory work done since 1998 for establishing an island population of Mustela lutreola in Hiiumaa (Dagö) Island (Estonia). The existing captive stock of 100 individuals and a new half-completed breeding facility will be placed at the disposal of the project. The experience gained in Hiiumaa Island (1000 km2) includes full removal of the alien Mustela vison from the island; two low-number experimental releases along with follow-up monitoring by means of radio-tracking of the released specimens; and a public awareness campaign, which has created a highly positive public attitude towards the activities in the island.

To achieve the objectives, the following main actions will be implemented in the course of the project:

1. completion of the breeding facility in Tallinn Zoo;
2. increasing of the size of the captive population to, and its maintenance at, the number (110 animals) which secures preservation of 90% of the genetic heterozygosity of the species for 25 years and provides a sufficient number of founders for reintroductions;
3. preconditioning of the captive animals selected for release;
4. preparatory research in the island before reintroduction;
5. reintroduction of Mustela lutreola Saaremaa (Ösel) (2500 km2) Island;
6. development of a management plan for Mustela lutreola in Hiiumaa Island to secure its long-term survival there (and also to serve as a model for elaboration of a similar plan for Saaremaa Island in future).

The expected results of the project are as follows:

1. core for establishment of viable population of Mustela lutreola in Saaremaa Island,
2. viable captive population of Mustela lutreola for 25 years.

These results will help to secure the survival of the species even in the case of its complete extinction in other parts of the continent. In addition, the experience gained in the course of this unique project can be utilized in future for other similar conservation projects worldwide.

After the completion of the project the captive population will be managed further for conservation purposes by Tallinn Zoo and foundation "Lutreola", and the established island populations in Saaremaa and Hiiumaa Islands will be managed further by the West-Estonian Archipelago Biosphere Reserve.

Full responsibility for project implementation will be born by non-profit foundation "Lutreola" registered in Estonia, with Tallinn Zoo and West-Estonian Archipelago Biosphere Reserve's Hiiumaa Centre serving as partners.

2. Objectives
Aim:
Ensuring the survival of Mustela lutreola in Europe and its recovery in Estonia - establishing viable captive and island populations of the species.
Objective: (1) to establish, on the basis of the already existing breeding stock in Tallinn Zoo (Estonia), a viable captive population of Mustela lutreola capable of maintaining 90% of the genetic diversity of the species for 25 years at least; (2) to establish a second viable island population of Mustela lutreola in Estonian island Saaremaa inaccessible to Mustela vison (both islands belong to the West Estonian Archipelago Biosphere Reserve); (3) to prepare a management plan for the already established Mustela lutreola population in Hiiumaa Island.

Expected Results:

• Re-introduced Mustela lutreola has established in Saaremaa Island its core breeding population capable of increasing to 168-233 individuals in future.
• Core (source) areas of Mustela lutreola in Hiiumaa and Saaremaa islands will benefit from most appropriate legal protection under national law.
• Management plan for Mustela lutreola in Hiiumaa has been developed.
• Infrastructure for breeding facility of Mustela lutreola in Tallinn Zoo has been completed.
• Genetically, demographically and behaviourally sound captive population has been maintained.

3. Beneficiary and Partners

Beneficiary:

• Nature Conservation Foundation "Lutreola"

Partners:

• Tallinn Zoological Gardens (Tallinn Zoo)
  Paldiski road 145, Tallinn 13522, Estonia
  Tel: +372 6943310
  Fax : +372 6578990
  E-mail: zoo@tallinnlv.ee
• West-Estonian Archipelago Biosphere Reserve's Hiiumaa Centre
  Vabrikuväljak 1, Kärdla, Hiiumaa, ESTONIA
  Tel : +372 46 22100
  Fax : +372 46 32169
  E-mail: ruuben@bka.hiiumaa.ee
  

4. Co-financers

• Tallinn Zoological Gardens (Tallinn Zoo)
• West-Estonian Archipelago Biosphere Reserves' Hiiumaa Center
• Stichting Dierentuinen Helpen (Zoos Help)
  Plantage Kerklaan 38-40, 1018 CZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
• Estonian Centre for Environmental Investments,
  Rävala pst 8, 10143 Tallinn, Estonia