Calm and stagnant waters in Košice's Nad Jazerom borough are paradise for beavers. (source: Korzár/Judita Čermáková)
A beaver, protected by law, was spotted as it walked along the pavement near a busy road and a shopping mall in Košice.
The video with the largest European rodent was filmed by Sebastián Daňko on Vodárenská Street in the city’s Sever district, reports the Korzár website. The Anička recreational site, near which the Hornád River flows, is a stone’s throw from the area.
Zoologist Peter Krišovský thinks that something happened that disturbed the rodent. As a result, it was forced to leave its territory and walk through the built-up area even in daylight.
“Perhaps it was an individual who was excluded by the group to look for and create its own family. Beavers mate from February,” the expert noted, adding that a beaver colony cannot grow indefinitely.
Another reason for the beaver’s unusual behaviour can be its illness.
“Half a year ago, we and the State Nature Conservancy dealt with the case of a beaver in Sabinov, which was on the shore and was sick. It died shortly after,” said Krišovský.
The Slovak Water Management Company confirmed for Korzár that the beaver population in Slovakia is increasing from year to year.
In February, Environment Deputy Minister Filip Kuffa (SNS nom.) suggested that the beaver might no longer remain a protected animal.
