Overview

• Four juvenile beavers, approximately four weeks old, were found dead in Oberau, displaying signs of brutal killing with knives and blunt force.
• The killings occurred during the closed season for beaver culling, with no permits issued for their removal in the area, according to conservation authorities.
• A criminal investigation is underway for suspected violations of the Animal Protection Act, as police confirm the deaths were caused by human actions.
• The local animal welfare association has filed a complaint and offered a €1000 reward for information leading to the identification of the perpetrators.
• This incident highlights ongoing tensions between conservation efforts and illegal vigilantism against beavers, whose population has rebounded under strict protection laws.