Jena (dpa/th) - Water buffalo are now in action as landscapers in the Thuringian nature reserve "Erlensee-Maiwiesen" in the Wartburg district. From now on, 18 bulls will graze on a pasture and should help to manage the floodplain meadow sustainably, said the Thuringia Nature Conservation Union (Nabu) on Thursday. So far, a mowing was not possible because of the increasing wetness of the nature reserve, it said. With the help of the water buffalo, among other things, the habitats for meadow-breeding birds and salt-loving plant species are to be secured, said Stephanie Krautz from Nabu Thuringia. Krautz coordinates the project funded by the EU and Thuringia. In addition, the new pasture fence is intended to ensure that beavers, lapwings and the like can breed undisturbed in the area.
Animal keeper Felix Bley explained that these water buffalo breeds are the right thing for gentle and sustainable care of the wet floodplain. The robust breed of cattle can also digest inferior feed such as reeds and cattails. The project is scheduled to run until March 2023.
