500 euros for the protection of fawns: an association saves lives!

500 euros for the protection of fawns: an association saves lives!

The Rehkitzrettung Ottlar e.V. association has made impressive progress in the last two years in a committed program to save deer fawns. As Finance Minister Professor Dr. R. Alexander Lorz reports that the association was founded to protect young wild animals from the dangers of mowing work. So far, volunteers have saved 125 fawns from being mowed to death on an area of ​​around 1,100 hectares. The positive response to the association's work is leading to increasing requests for support and additional helpers.

A central concern of the association is to train additional volunteers who can obtain a license to fly drones. This is made easier by Lorz's support with lottery funds amounting to 500 euros. Meadows are important habitats not only for fawns, but also for many other animal species. Unfortunately, the mowing work often coincides with the breeding season of many wild animal species, which puts young game at considerable risk. Mowers designed for large-scale harvesting pose a great danger because the animals hide in the tall grass.

Drones as a lifesaver

Drone overflights before mowing work are an efficient method of protecting fawns and other young game from fatal accidents. In Germany, around 100,000 fawns die every year during mowing work, but many of these deaths are preventable. The fawn rescue campaign is also supported by the organizations DeinDronepilot and skyzr, who want to provide active help. They are urgently looking for volunteers, especially drone pilots equipped with thermal imaging cameras.

Registration for interested drone pilots takes place via a form. The organization brings them together with farmers who ask for support in finding fawns. Locations are determined as needed so that the drone pilots can be deployed optimally. All activities are voluntary, unpaid, and the flight missions are planned for the months of May and June 2024. The search for fawns extends across both Germany and Austria.

Together for animal protection

Farmers, hunting tenants or clubs can register their need to search for fawns, and the organization collects the data necessary to contact the drone pilots and farmers. Participants also have the opportunity to highlight their achievements in the DeinDronenpilot and skyzr blogs if they wish. The combination of volunteerism and modern technology shows how effective the protection of wild animals can be.

The fawn rescue is a remarkable example of how shared commitment and innovative solutions can help protect the lives of wild animals.