Predator avoidance strategies of mouflon in Lower Saxony

Landrover, crossing a field

Project data  
Project leader: Prof. Prof. h. c. Dr. Ursula Siebert
Chief scientist: Dr. O. Keuling
Scientific staff: Marika Koch (MSc)
Project term: 01.01.2024-31.12.2026
Sponsor ship: Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Ernährung, Landwirtschaft und Verbraucherschutz

The mouflon or mouflon Ovis gmelini musimon only occurs in a few remaining populations in Lower Saxony. The mouflon should have a good chance of survival at least in some low mountain regions due to its predator avoidance strategy with short steep escapes up rocky slopes, but has become extinct in the lowland regions due to the presence of the wolf.
There is much discussion about the few animals in Lower Saxony and Germany in general: The mouflon is not originally native here (not autochthonous) and causes high levels of damage to forestry locally. On the other hand, it is classified as endangered by the IUCN in its native Corsica and Sardinia and is a symbolic species for hunters. Therefore, in this study we want to take a neutral view and use photo traps and direct observations to determine facts about abundance, behavior and enemy avoidance strategies as well as damage effects. In addition, surveys and interviews will be used to obtain the opinions of the various stakeholders (hunters, foresters, farmers, other nature lovers, etc.).
All of this data will be used to objectify the discussion about mouflon, large predators and human interests and to model the survival probabilities of Lower Saxony's mouflon populations in the presence of wolves and lynx.

Contact person

University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation
Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research
Bischofsholer Damm 15
30173 Hannover 

 

Dr. Oliver Keuling
Tel.: +49 511 856-7396
E-Mail