Overview
- Experts say five different elks are present in Brandenburg at the same time, a new peak confirmed by camera traps, tracking data and eyewitness footage.
- Authorities and scientists have identified specific animals including the radio‑collared elk known as Bert, two elks in the Oder‑Spree district, a young bull in Barnim, and a photodocumented animal on an A12 green bridge.
- Researchers trace the animals to the large northeast Polish population that crosses Poland and swims the Oder to reach Brandenburg.
- Brandenburg officials are finalizing a management plan that prioritizes deterrence and relocation from danger zones and allows lethal action only in extreme threats.
- Biologists note elks are normally solitary and heat sensitive, they use wetlands for relief, and experts say successful breeding could lead to a small, lasting population of roughly up to 20 animals.