European WILDLIFE

The extreme drought that hit Central European countries this year has revived the debate on the construction of new reservoirs and fish ponds. But this year’s high temperatures have also shown that these methods of retaining water in the landscape do not work.
Indeed, this year’s precipitation was so low that even numerous reservoirs lost their water, as did many fish ponds. Even ponds that still retained water showed significantly lower water levels and, moreover, …

While foresters in many European countries addressed the forest crisis this year, especially in the wake of drought and the bark beetle calamity, a much greater threat to Europe’s forests is lurking. Non-native woody species are spreading in forests, including dangerous invasive species.

“If you walk through the landscape, you are happy to see deciduous tree species in the monocultures of spruce and pine. When you come closer, the positive feeling often turns into disappointment …

Yesterday, one more reserve experiencing the return of wild horses was added to the map of Central Europe. In the west of the Czech Republic, not far from the town of Dobrany, a group of six young male horses has been grazing since yesterday afternoon. They arrived from the former military training area of Milovice near Prague.

“We are very happy that wild horses born in our reserve will help manage another natural place of …

One of the rarest species of birds in Central Europe has returned to a large herbivore reserve located at the former military training area of Milovice near Prague. This year, scientists first observed the Eurasian hoopoe in grazing areas. “The bird was spotted repeatedly in the local pastures – sometimes even several times per day; during the previous three years, we did not encounter the creature at all in these places,” explained Miloslav Jirku from …

A military area, taken by occupation units after the Soviet forces invasion into the former Czechoslovakia on 21st August 1968, had various fates after the soldier’s departure in 1991. A former military area in Central Bohemian Milovice has come through a huge transformation. It has changed from the largest Soviet base in Czechoslovakia into a world unique reserve with wisent and wild horse herds.

The military training area in Milovice had a strategical meaning for …