Relocated European mink produce offspring on Saaremaa

Endangered European mink relocated to Saaremaa have reproduced in the wild, providing the first conclusive evidence that the animals are breeding on the island, ERR reported.

Footage accidentally filmed on the bank of a Saaremaa river showed the mink and confirmed to zoologists involved in the relocation programme that the animals had produced offspring. It may have happened earlier, but there had been no proof, said Martin Silts.

“If an animal can reproduce in the wild, it shows that Saaremaa has high-quality places where it can survive and sufficient suitable habitats,” Silts said.

Female mink from Tallinn Zoo gave birth to 22 pups on Saaremaa this spring. The mothers taught the pups to manage independently before being returned to the zoo. The young mink are now able to fend for themselves and will be released back along Saaremaa’s rivers.

European mink are being introduced to Saaremaa and Hiiumaa because the islands do not have their main competitor and predator, the American mink, also known as the mink. This could allow the endangered species to survive on the Estonian islands, although its survival and adaptation rate in the wild remains low.

Silts said the mainland’s rivers were full of American mink. Tallinn Zoo has 110 mink, while Hiiumaa has a small population. Establishing a population on Saaremaa would also provide a reserve if disease or another problem wiped out a population elsewhere.