Leipzig Zoo Launches €12.2M EU-Backed Project to Save Europe's Last Hamsters
Leipzig Zoo is launching a major conservation project, 'LIFE4HamsterSaxony', supported by the Federal Ministry for the Environment. This initiative targets the declining population of European hamsters in their last known habitat in Saxony. These creatures, which can grow up to 35 cm and weigh up to 500 g, are threatened by intensive agriculture and pesticides. The zoo plans to breed and release more hamsters into the wild, with 179 already reintroduced and the current population estimated at around 300.
The project, running until 2031 with a budget of 12.2 million euros, 75% funded by the EU, aims to make 400 hectares of agricultural land suitable for these creatures. Agricultural areas will be cultivated with special strips of crops and flowers, creating 'hamster-friendly' zones. European hamsters, known for their cheek pouches used as natural 'shopping bags', will benefit from these changes.
By the project's end, the European hamster population in Saxony is expected to increase. This ambitious initiative, involving Leipzig Zoo and the BMUV, demonstrates a commitment to preserving these fascinating creatures and their habitat.
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