Field hamster released into the wild in Saxony

More than two years after the start of a breeding program, Leipzig Zoo has released field hamsters into the wild for the first time. The young animals were brought to an approximately 30-hectare field in northern Saxony, as the zoo announced on Monday. Part of the area is bordered by an electric fence to provide protection from predators. The field was planted with hamster-friendly vegetation several years ago and is not used by farmers. The hamsters are also provided with pre-drilled, tube-like burrows and a starter ration of food. A total of 71 hamsters are to be released into the wild. The species is highly endangered.

The zoo announced that the reintroduction is an important first step towards supporting the hamster population in north-west Saxony. "Breeding in human care and reintroduction into the wild are essential to increase the population and achieve a self-sustaining population", emphasized Zoo Director Jörg Junhold. Leipzig Zoo's breeding project was developed in collaboration with the working group "Cooperative field hamster protection in the Free State of Saxony", regional farmers and the Free State of Saxony.