24 BEAVERS FIND NEW HOME IN CROATIA

( Editorial: --> 9741 ) IVANIC GRAD/ZUTICA, Feb 7 (Hina) - Twenty-four beavers last week found new accommodation in the Zutica forest near Zagreb. They are a gift the Bavarian Government presented to Croatia to bring the animal back to his former habitat. The gift is part of a project called "The Beaver in Croatia", made on the model of "The Beaver in Germany", a project of the Munich-based Institute for the Biology of the Game. The beaver is a symbol of a clean environment. Its worst enemy proved to be man, who almost exterminated the species for its expensive fur. The beaver feeds on herbs and roots and is known for building "dams" to facilitate swimming and protect openings to his "home". The saving of the beaver has been under way in the United States and all European countries for almost 20 years. Croatia has recently joined the action. A protected species, the beaver disappeared from Croatia's forests in late 19th century. Fines for killing the beaver in Germany reach DM 50,000, and DM 12,500 in Croatia. The Croatian project for saving the animal was realised thanks to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Croatian Forests, the Zagreb-based Faculty of Forestry, and the Croatian Oil Industry INA, the donor of the whole project. Last week's arrival of beavers to the Zutica forest was covered by numerous reporters, who each gave a name to one beaver. Hina's beaver is called Hinko. (hina) ha 071216 MET feb 98