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.