Save the Mountain Floofs

Almost 90 species of eagles are now on the Red List of Globally Endangered Species.

The heraldic animals of many states and institutions like eagles, bears, lynxes and mountain lions – besides many others - do not have an easy life. For example, as permanent guests on the Red List, many eagle species are threatened by extinction. Living space is scarce, the offspring too sparse and those majestic flying acrobats are poised to become nothing more than a blazon soon. A study by the Berlin Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) showed that around 200 sea eagles die per year. 73% died from electric shock, collisions with trains or from wind turbines. 27% succumbed to lead poisoning from huntin munition and contaminated leftofers. 200 does not sound much at first but their occurrence in the entire Alps is estimated at only 1,100 to 1,200 breeding pairs, and in Germany’s last counting in 2016, there were only 50 pairs.

Larger animals do not have it better. Only around 17,000 brown bears live in Europe. The population of a small town stretch across europe. Most of them live in the Carpathian Mountains. There are other small stocks in the Alps and the Dinaric Mountains, Sweden and Norway, Italy, Spain, Bulgaria and Greece. The last time there were brown bears in Germany was at the beginning of the 19th century. Some countries like Austria tried a resettlement in the 90s but again, multiple illegal kills ensured that the population that had been painstakingly built up to 40 animals, disappeared again. In addition to the loss of habitats, the targeted hunt will soon lead to the extermination of the last european bears.

Poaching is also a problem for some of the last lynxes in europe. Some areas of western europe are now trying to release them back into the wild again, but where some humans are trying to help making this attempt a success, the human itself is still a big threat. As long as poaching a wild lynx is cheaper than exceeding the speed limit, or the value of a sheep, big game will allways face extinction.

What does your commitment do?

• Prohibition of trophy hunting
• Prohibition of big game hunting
• Prohibiton of any kind of animal bloodsports
• Prohibition of offering and carrying out hunting trips
• Forestation and building of new nesting boxes
• Establishment of further nature protection zones
• Educational work on living alongside returning wild animals like Wolves, Lynx and Bears.

Where does it go to?

• Rescue Stations
• National Parks
• Conservation Associations
• Wildlife Protection Organisations
• Foundations