First releasing took place on July 17th in Moravia, near the town of Ivančice. 55 ground squirrels from Zoo Brno and Swedish Zoo Nordens Ark have found a new home at localities Nad řekami and Biskoupky. Both are established original ground squirrel sites, where the abundance has decreased during the last few years to cca 20 estimated individuals at each place. The localities are at the same time very close to each other and three other colonies still exist in the area, about 3 to 8 km away. For these reasons, the decision was made to strenghten these colonies by releasing animals from zoos. 

Second releasing action was completed a week later near the village of Milá in the České středohoří Protected Landscape Area. 60 ground squirrels have been released at three different sites. Ground squirrels already inhabit two of the sites, while a new population is expected to be established at the third. The activity is part of the ongoing effort to preserve these critically endangered rodents in the Louny Highlands area. The local steppes provide a suitable habitat for them. The released animals came from breeding programs in both Czech and foreign zoos. 

“Ground squirrel releases at selected sites have been ongoing for several years. The animals are usually placed in pre-prepared burrows. In addition to strengthening existing populations - which was done today with 25 animals at the sites Hliniště and Odolický vrch - we are also establishing new colonies in suitable locations. That was the case of releasing 35 squirrels at the Hliniště II site today. Ground squirrels in the Louny Highlands currently live in several still-isolated locations, and we are gradually working to connect these areas by creating new populations and by ensuring appropriate landscape management. We hope that interconnected populations will be more resilient to adverse factors,” explains Jan Matějů, author of Species Action Plan and zoologist at the Karlovy Vary Museum.

The European ground squirrel was once considered an agricultural pest. However, it has suffered for decades by the destruction of field margins and pastures, the merging of small fields into large monocultures, and a dramatic loss of areas with short grass. Due to such factors, it is nowadays a critically endangered animal. Dry, low steppe grasslands are ideal for these animals. Threats to this rare rodent include for example flash floods and stray cats. Ensuring the proper management of the sites where ground squirrels still live is essential for their survival in the wild.

“Strengthening small populations and establishing new colonies in pre-identified areas are among many activities of the Species Action Plan aimed at supporting this critically endangered mammal. We regularly monitor ground squirrels, ensure grazing and mowing of grass at localities where they occur, and support breeding efforts in zoos and rescue centers. We would like to thank all our domestic and international partners who ensure the breeding of genetically suitable ground squirrels—without them, we would not have appropriate animals to release,” adds Jitka Matoušová from the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic, coordinator of the ground squirrel Species Action Plan.

“Our priority is, of course, to maintain the landscape in a condition that supports the widest possible range of plant and animal life. In cases where this is not enough, special measures—such as the Species Action Plan for the critically endangered ground squirrel—are necessary. The PROSPECTIVE LIFE project, now in its second year, also allows us to focus on other rare plants and animals. When we started the ground squirrel Species Action Plan more than 15 years ago, there were an estimated 3,600 individuals in the Czech Republic. Today, that number has grown to nearly 7,000. Although the situation is far from resolved, it is clear that this work is making a difference,” says František Pelc, Director of the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic.

The ground squirrels released today came from breeding facilities at Zoo Hluboká nad Vltavou and its Rozovy rescue station, Prague Zoo, Zoo Na Hrádečku, Nuremberg Zoo, Opel Zoo, and Bern Zoo. The transport of animals from Bern Zoo was supported by Jihlava Zoo. Special thanks go to Zoo Hluboká nad Vltavou for coordinating the transport of animals from abroad. The Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic and Karlovy Vary Museum have been cooperating on the implementation of the Species Action Plan on a long-term basis.

Photo: Jitka Matoušová and Květa Černohlávková