Etusivu European mink

European mink

Mustela lutreola

The European mink is a species that has become extinct in Finland. The species isn’t thriving elsewhere either: over the last century, the European mink has disappeared from large parts of its distribution area and the reasons for this are not yet completely understood. Competition from the American mink, an invasive species in this part of the world, is likely to be one of the causes of the European mink’s declining population numbers.

European minks are typically found near rivers and streams, but they also spend a lot of time on dry land. They are solitary creatures with the exception of the mating season in the spring, and they are known to have violent confrontations with fellow members of their species that wander onto their turf at the wrong time.

Conservation

European mink is no longer a part of Finnish nature. Fur hunting, invasive species and changes to its habitat have been considered to be causes to its fate. The larger and stronger American mink spread into nature from fur farms and replaced the remaining few European minks. Originally from America, the mink is now classified as a harmful invasive species in Finland. The strong mink population prevents the European mink from returning to its former habitats. Wild woodland streams, which are ideal for the European mink, have also nearly disappeared from Finland.

Zoos have been working to protect the European mink since the 1990s. Protection projects have been implemented in such countries as Estonia, Germany, France and Spain. Korkeasaari has been raising and donating funds to protection efforts in Estonia: since the year 2000, European minks born in zoos have been reintroduced to the island of Hiiumaa, from which the species had previously disappeared. Hiiumaa now has an established European mink population that is approaching 100 animals and growing.

This species and the individuals living in Korkeasaari Zoo are part of an ex-situ conservation programme by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria EAZA, known as the EEP. The aim of the EEP is to maintain a healthy zoo population of the species, and to make reintroductions to the wild possible.

EAZA Ex-situ Programme