Successful field hamster project at Leipzig Zoo lays the foundation for species conservation

The field hamster project at Leipzig Zoo continues to be a success. This year, 224 young animals were born, the zoo announced. This lays the foundation for the next release of the endangered hamsters into the wild in 2025.

The breeding project at Leipzig Zoo was developed in collaboration with the "Cooperative Field Hamster Protection in the Free State of Saxony" working group, regional farmers and the Free State of Saxony. In May, the first 70 animals were brought to a 30-hectare field in northern Saxony. Several young animals were also sighted there, emphasized zoo director Jörg Junhold. However, the exact number could not be determined.