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At the nationwide search for the endangered dormouse in Germany, a total of 10,000 animals have now been reported in Rhineland-Palatinate. This number, according to scientists and nature conservationists, marks an important milestone in the search process and contributes to redefining the distribution area of the animal in Germany.
Dormouse reporting station established
A team from the Federal Association for Environment and Nature Conservation Germany (BUND), Justus-Liebig-University Gießen, and the Senckenberg Society for Natural Research searched for the endangered rodent nationwide in recent years. According to reports, a reporting station was set up for the population to obtain an overview of the number of small animals.
Sven Buchner, dormouse expert at Justus-Liebig-University Gießen, says: "The success of the reporting station since its establishment in 2019 has far exceeded our expectations. It underscores the project's reach and the enthusiasm of people for the small dormouse."
Background of the "Dormouse Tracking" project, according to BUND, was the question of why the rodent had disappeared from many regions in a short time.
Dormouse lives in urban areas
Originally, the dormouse was widespread in most federal states of South and Middle Germany. However, its trace is missing in many places today. It currently mainly occurs in the southwest of Germany and lives there mainly in urban areas.
You also know a dormouse – or even several? Here you can report them.
- The dormouse reporting station, a collaborative effort between the BUND, Justus-Liebig-University Gießen, and the Senckenberg Society for Natural Research, has been actively operating in Rhineland-Palatinate since its establishment in 2019, providing valuable data from this region within the larger 'Dormouse Tracking' project taking place across various parts of Germany.
- As a student at Justus-Liebig-University in Gießen, located in Rhineland-Palatinate, you are situated in an area that plays a significant role in the ongoing efforts to monitor and protect the endangered dormouse in Germany, contributing to the broader goal of understanding and preserving the species' distribution and population dynamics within the country.
