From Italy to Vienna: Eagle Owl to Secure Species

In the forests around Vienna, a Ural owl born in May in the northern Italian region of Friuli has been released. It was born in the aviaries of the Cornino Lake nature reserve in Friuli and represents the only birth in Italy as part of an international project that unites various partners, including zoos and breeding centers, under the coordination of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna and the Austrian Ornithological Institute.

Reintroduction with Genetic Diversity

It all began 15 years ago with the release of juveniles born in a controlled environment. This led to the formation of several pairs that now reproduce regularly. "The releases continue to ensure good genetic diversity within the population and involve areas in Austria, Germany, and the Czech Republic. In this way, an attempt is made to reintroduce the species in some regions of Central Europe from which it disappeared about a century ago due to human persecution," explained Fulvio Genero, scientific director of the Cornino nature reserve, according to media reports.

Since 2009, the Austrian Ornithological Institute has been working on the comeback of the birds in Austria. The main cause of the extinction of the Ural owls (Strix uralensis) is considered to be shootings. In addition, the significantly large owls lost their preferred habitat in the form of extensive, near-natural mixed deciduous forests with large, old trees. The tree-cavity-nesting animals are particularly dependent on European beeches, near which many mice are usually found due to the food supply.

(APA/Red)

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