On 1st April 2014 the repatriation of suslik in Western Slovakia has started under the LIFE09 NAT/HU/000384 project focusing on conservation of Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug). 18 individuals were captured on Bratislava airport and released on Tuesday. This year is the last year of suslik repatriation of the project. In two project SPAs, SKCHVU016 Záhorské Pomoravie and SKCHVU017 Muránska planina, altogether over 500 individuals will be released between 2011 and 2014. The cooperation with farmers on both sites is very good, so we believe to establish a stabile suslik colonies. Suitable management is crucial for suslik. Due to disappearance of pastures from the land also the suslik is disappearing, therefore the efforts for conservation of this species are very important. Some years ago suslik was the main prey composition of Saker Falcon and Imperial Eagle. To create food sources for endangered birds of prey species is one of the reasons for conservation of the suslik.
You can watch a TV report here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-31d10YS0Y
Lucia Deutschová
Country coordinator
Raptor Protection of Slovakia
Foto: Lucia Deutschová (1-7), Norbert Sommer (8-10), Tomáš Blaškovič (11)