Description
Czech nature is rich and diverse but also contains many vulnerable species. These species need an active protection. A document called an action plan contains guidelines for nature conservation authorities, researches and owners of land how to maintain endangered species populations. It is a special tool which provides complex knowledge of species and recommends the measures how to support the species. The European Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) is a specially protected species therefor the “Action Plan for European Ground Squirrel” was prepared in the year 2007. Project meets target of the state environmental policy of the Czech Republic for 2012-2020. The main objective of the project is the implementation of the action plan by building three semi-natural breeding facilities in the area of towns Brno, Ohrada and Vlašim. The project outcomes are increasing the species population available for future reintroduction in natural habitats. The project outputs are three facilities for breeding and three populations of species from Slovakia in these facilities. The caught individuals will be tested in genetic and parasitological analysis. Project will also include part of publicity and an information board. The target group of the project is primarily the species and nature-conservation authorities. Secondarily, the protection and connected activities will carry out the influence over the general public via education. There’s no project partner from donor countries, only three local partners – Brno City Zoological Garden, Zoological garden Ohrada, Hluboká nad Vltavou and Czech Union for Nature Conservation Vlasim (ZO ČSOP Vlašim. Partners contribut to the project by their expertise and experience including human resources and know-how.
Summary of project results
The key objective of this project was to establish three breeding sites of the European Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) on the premises of the cooperating partners in order to allow subsequent repatriation of the animals to selected historically suitable sites as planned in the action plan. The project therefore seeked to build appropriate facilities, such as breeding equipment – volaries, to allow breeding of this critically endangered species, and subsequently to catch the source animals and place them in these facilities. The source animals used in establishing these breeds were acquired in Slovakia, based on granted exception from the Slovak Ministry of the Environment. The reason for such a solution is the fact that the current fitness of Czech colonies of the European Ground Squirrel is not so good as to provide for a greater number of caught animals without possible adverse effects, and also the fact that importing these individuals is considered desirable and also suitable from the genetic viewpoint. The new breeding sites were planned to be established on the premises of the Brno zoo (away from visitor areas), the premises of the Rozovy animal rescue station near Temelin, which is administered by the zoo in Hluboka nad Vltavou, and the premises of the animal rescue station of the ZO CSOP Vlasim. It was assumed that each site would be started with 30–40 animals. The project included keeping detailed records of the caught animals, including initial genetic and parasitological analyses. These details are also planned to be kept after the project ends. Public information about the project was provided as part of the obligatory publicity via this website and seminars, an information board was made and installed on the premises of the paraZoo in Vlasim in the visitor area and several propagation materials were produced.
Summary of bilateral results