COVID-19 pandemic - hand-raising and human-led migration 2020 cancelled
Newsletter 18/03/2020
Unfortunately, in these very difficult, sometimes almost apocalyptic times, we cannot avoid informing about negative news.
For the past few days and weeks we have been constantly trying to find ways and solutions to start the hand-raising in early April as planned. The breeding in the zoo Rosegg is already well underway. The required number of chicks would be available from the beginning of April, as well as a great team for hand-rearing, consisting of Helena Wehner, who had already raised with Anne in 2019, and Katharina Huchler. The camp assistant, a team for feed preparation and further people are also ready.
Unfortunately, in the past few days, the freedom to operate has narrowed so much that we have to cancel hand-rearing and the regarding human-led migration for this season. Even the preparations seem to be neither manageable nor responsible. This is a very difficult and momentous decision for us all, especially for the employees affected, who will lose their job and the funding for a whole season in a short term.
At least, the team has the positive perspective of a human-led migration in 2021. This perspective is also important for two large, scheduled media productions, an IMAX 3D cinema production and a BBC TV production. Fortunately, both are two-year productions and can be postponed to 2021.
Additionally, the rest of the project management team is currently severely limited. Undertaking measures on Italian territory is practically impossible. Daniela Trobe returned from Tuscany to Carinthia yesterday and is in quarantine at home. Another employee is also in quarantine, all other employees are largely restricted to home work.
However, we now have a population of almost 140 largely independent birds. This wild population must prove itself now and it does. The first bird has returned to Burghausen, spring migration has started, and more birds are on the way.
During this season, we will push other measures in the project instead of the human-led migration. One of the focal points will be the establishment of a migrating breeding colony in Carinthia, in cooperation with Zoo Rosegg. In this context, we aim to integrate those young birds into the migratory population that we would have taken for hand rearing otherwise. Thus, we want to achieve almost the same population growth as in a regular season.
Unfortunately, we all know that forecasts and plans are extremely uncertain in times like this. But it is important to have plans and perspectives and to keep up the optimism. In Jane Goodall’s words: There is always Reason for Hope.
Picture: The male Jazu is the first bird to reach its breeding area Burghausen in Bavaria this season. More birds are on the way. This year’s season started very early. Photo by Oliver Habel.
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