Rescue campaign on the highway: Police save helpless rehkitz Franz

Rescue campaign on the highway: Police save helpless rehkitz Franz

On Monday, the police saved a fawn from the A6 motorway near Grünstadt. The animal was discovered next to his dead mother, who had been run over. Drivers alerted the police, who then blocked the highway in both directions to protect the vulnerable animal. The Rehkitz, which was given the name "Franz", was taken to the Wildlife and Species Protection Center Palatinate Forest, which is operated by Iza and Steven Foerster. As SWR is valued as a premature birth, about a week old, and has hardly any muscles.

Franz suffered from malnutrition for a day after his mother died. In the wildlife center, he now lives with another weak Kitz from Bad Dürkheim, which is also classified as a premature birth. Both fawns need a lot of rest, warmth and food to recover from their difficult starting conditions. Franz is currently being housed in the residential rooms of the sanctuary and receives food around the clock. Steven Foerster estimates that Franz will stay in the center for three to six months before he can be released outside.

Hope for a new life

The Foersters already have experience in rearing deer and hope that Franz will stay nearby when he is fully grown. The rearing of fawns is a sensitive and lengthy affair, often shaped by a struggle for survival. Franz's recent fate illustrates the challenges that are orphaned wild animals.

In order to protect more fawns, especially in the critical phase of the spring mowing, new measures for wildlife rescue were introduced. The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) supports the purchase of drones with thermal imaging cameras in order to improve the findability of fawns. The funding volume is 1.5 million euros. Among other things, district hunting clubs and fawn rescue associations are entitled to support, which are dedicated to protecting the wild animals. Applications must be submitted by June 17, 2025, whereby the application procedure is made online via the federal funding portal, such as ble

drones in use for animal rescue

drones play an increasingly important role in agriculture, especially when looking for fawns. So far, the use of unmanned aerial vehicles has often been restricted by European guidelines. In March 2024, however, these restrictions for German farmers were lifted. According to bmdv , up to 20,000 vineyards could be saved in spring. This shows how the latest technology can be used for animal protection.

From November 20, 2024, new regulations apply that enable drones to be introduced to residential and commercial areas in certain geographical areas in more than 150 meters, provided that they fly low. This significantly expands the possible uses of the drones and could save many other wild animals life. This measure makes Germany the first EU country, which has issued a national exception to animal welfare for drone use.