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30 endangered animals released into the wild in southern Hesse – species conservation project planned until 2029
Pfungstadt. The European hamster is among the most critically endangered animal species in Hesse. To secure its population, the Darmstadt Regional Council, together with the Darmstadt-Dieburg Landscape Conservation Association , the Hessian state breeding station , and the district's landscape conservation department, launched a comprehensive conservation project. As part of this project, 30 European hamsters were released near Pfungstadt . The corresponding funding notification was presented on Tuesday by Regional President Prof. Dr. Jan Hilligardt to Viktor Gretz , Managing Director of the Landscape Conservation Association.
Cooperation for greater biodiversity
The shared goal: to release 30 European hamsters annually until 2029 to establish a stable population in southern Hesse. The area near Pfungstadt used for this purpose is one of the last remaining refuges for the European hamster in the region.
The regional president emphasizes the importance of the project:
"The protection of the European hamster exemplifies the challenges and opportunities of modern species conservation. Only through the cooperation of agriculture, nature conservation and research can we preserve endangered species in the long term."
Release into the wild at the "Hamster Hotel"
The 30 animals planned for this year were released at the end of May in the "Eschollbrücken" project area – under safe conditions in a so-called "hamster hotel" protected by an electric fence. This method has already proven successful in previous projects.
The breeding station is operated by the Hessian Society for Ornithology and Nature Conservation (HGON) . Offspring will be regularly available there over the next five years.
European hamster: Only ten populations left in Hesse
The European hamster has suffered a dramatic loss of habitat in recent decades. In Hesse, only about ten known populations , compared to 58 previously. The project near Pfungstadt aims to halt this decline and establish a self-sustaining population.
Further information about the project can be found on the website of the Darmstadt Regional Council:
👉 rp-darmstadt.hessen.de/naturschutz
(RED/RPDA)
Featured image: At the site where 30 European hamsters were released at the end of May: Regional President Prof. Dr. Jan Hilligardt (center right) presented the grant notification to Viktor Gretz (center left; Managing Director of the Darmstadt-Dieburg Landscape Conservation Association). Photo: RPDA
