Wetzlar (dpa / lhe) - The population of the white stork continues to increase in Hesse. According to the Nabu Hessen, 1075 pairs were observed in their breeding nationwide this year. That is 65 more than in the previous year. In total, the imposing birds raised a little more than 2000 young animals. The entire stock is thus secured, the environmental organization announced on Thursday in Wetzlar.

According to this, most white storks continue to breed in the district of Groß-Gerau (346 pairs/723 young birds). "What we are currently experiencing is that white storks are also migrating to the low mountain ranges and opening up new breeding areas. There are new settlements in eastern and northern Hesse in particular," said Nabu white stork expert Bernd Petri.

Over the past century, populations have been declining at an alarming rate due to environmental degradation. Efforts to save the white stork began in the 1970s. Shortly before the turn of the millennium, the first animals settled in southern Hesse again.