Species Protection - Naturschutzyer: 10.000-star Garden Sleeper reported
In the nationwide search for the endangered hedgehog, the 10,000th animal has now been reported in Rhineland-Palatinate. This announcement marks an important milestone in the search process for scientists and nature conservationists, contributing to redefining the distribution area of the animal in Germany. A team from the Federal Agency for Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND), Justus-Liebig-University Gießen, and the Senckenberg Society for Natural Research has been searching for the endangered rodent nationwide in recent years.
According to reports, a reporting station was set up for the population to gain an overview of the number of these small animals. Sven Buchner, hedgehog expert at Justus-Liebig-University Gießen, emphasized: "The success of the reporting station has exceeded our expectations since its establishment in 2019. It highlights the reach of the project and the enthusiasm of people for the small hedgehog." The background of the "Tracking Hedgehog" project, according to BUND, was the question of why the hedgehog has disappeared from many regions in a short time.
Originally, the hedgehog was found in most federal states of Southern and Central Germany. Today, its trace is largely missing from many places. It currently predominantly occurs in the southwestern Germany and lives mainly in urban areas.
- The team investigating the endangered hedgehog's population includes researchers from the Justus-Liebig-University in Mainz, located in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
- As part of the miscellaneous initiatives aiming to understand the decline of hedgehogs, the Species Protection bundle has collaborated with various institutions, including the Justus-Liebig-University in their studies.
- The reported increase in hedgehog sightings in Rhineland-Palatinate has boosted the university's rank among German institutions leading nature protection research and conservation efforts.
- Interested individuals in Rhineland-Palatinate can visit the Justus-Liebig-University's local branch to learn more about the miscellaneous nature conservation projects, including its contribution to the protection of the hedgehog.
