France: heroic hamsters help biodiversity

A newly-built motorway in northern France has introduced hamsters to help the local environment. The European or 'Alsatian' hamster's being used to improve biodiversity around the 24 kilometre road near Strasbourg.

The motorway was built after 40 years of local objections. Meanwhile, a 2016 law has made its constructor act to reduce any loss of biodiversity.

Alsatian hamsters are an umbrella species. They have a positive impact on other plants and animals. Their numbers also help measure an area's biodiversity, says researcher Timothée Gérard.

Timothée Gérard: "We know that if the hamster can reproduce, it will positively impact the insect community, the annelids community, the earthworms. These species also help crops. We expect that where the hamster is doing well, we'll see the crops benefit, with less need for fertilisers, pesticides, etc. and more viable ecosystems for birds, for micromammals, for insects."

Alsatian hamsters were traditionally seen as pests. Their numbers fell sharply due to hunting and trapping. In 2020, they joined the red list of highly endangered species.

Constructor Vinci Autoroutes hopes to change that, says environmental manager Arnaud Guillemin.

Arnaud Guillemin: "As it's a protected species, we have very low populations. The idea of our operation is that the hamsters which we release reproduce - to recreate a new generation and increase the local population."

The fields surrounding the motorway mainly produce wheat, which is Alsatian hamsters' main food source and led experts to decide it was suitable to reintroduce.

Their release into the area has taken careful planning. The team at the wildlife rescue organisation has strict rules to follow. Hamster breeder Celia Schappler explains:

Celia Schappler: "We will release them in lines, alternating between male and female. We prepare which hamster will go into which burrow, to avoid inbreeding. We never release two hamsters from the same litter on the same plot."

This project has the potential to support endangered hamsters and the wider environment.

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