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EU Greenlights €12.2M Funding for Field Hamster Conservation in Saxony

Conservation teams will roll out hamster-friendly crops on 400 hectares following EU approval of 75 percent of program costs.

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Overview

  • The six-year LIFE4HamsterSaxony initiative officially begins in October with a total budget of €12.2 million, of which 75 percent is covered by the European Union.
  • Authorities aim to convert around 400 hectares of agricultural land into habitat-friendly fields within a broader 6,000-hectare area to support burrowing and foraging needs.
  • Zoo Leipzig’s breeding station has recorded nine litters yielding 15 juveniles so far and anticipates further increases in captive-born pups.
  • Wild camera traps in northern Saxony confirm that previously released hamsters are reproducing successfully in their restored habitats.
  • The project is coordinated by the State Office for Environment, Agriculture and Geology together with Landkreis Nordsachsen, Zoo Leipzig and local conservation groups.