Together for the Bavarian short ear mouse: Starting Species Protection Project!

Together for the Bavarian short ear mouse: Starting Species Protection Project!

An important step in species protection was initiated on March 20, 2025: Together with the Garmisch-Partenkirchen state bird protection station, the Alpenzoo Innsbruck-Tirol signed a contract to protect the Bavarian short ear mouse (Microtus Bavaricus) threatened. This small vole type, which was first discovered in 1962 near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, was considered missing for many years. It was only in 2023 that the LFU Bayern managed to prove it again in Mittenwald. Until then, her only well -known habitat in North Tyrol was documented near the alpine nose. Due to its restricted distribution area and the extremely low population, the species is listed as "threatened with extinction" in the red list of the IUCN, as tirol.at reported.

foundation of a species protection center

The new EU project is funded by 75 percent funds from the Interreg Bayern-Austria program. The aim is to set up a species protection center on the alpine zoo, which is intended to secure the long -term maintenance of endangered small mammals and other alpine animal species. The project includes regular monitoring of the remaining populations, protective measures and habitat management in order to maintain and optimize suitable habitats. In addition, measures for public relations and environmental education are taken to raise awareness of the importance of this unique way. "Together we can save a kind of rescue that hardly anyone knows so far - but which is still part of our alpine biodiversity," said Andre Stadler, director of the Alpenzoos, during the signing, like Meinzirk.at cited.

The Alpenzoo Innsbruck-Tirol and the LFU Bayern are therefore actively committed to maintaining these rare species. This project not only protects the Bavarian short ear mouse, but also an important sign for cross-border nature conservation in the Euregio region Zugspitze-Wetterstein-Karwendel, which is considered a central habitat for the species.