July 13, 2024, 9:27 am | Read time: 4 minutes
When you think of nandus, you probably think of the grasslands of Argentina rather than a biosphere reserve in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Since 2000, however, the ratites have been proving that they could also pass as true northern lights.
Imagine you are traveling by car to Lübeck or Hamburg and crossing the Schaalsee Biosphere Reserve in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Schleswig-Holstein. Suddenly, it’s not a hare or a red fox that runs in front of your car, but a nandu. These flightless ratites look like ostriches and are actually native to the pampas of Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil. However, since 2000, these birds have also made their home in the area where the inner-German border once existed. Discover how the only nandu population in Europe arrived there and why they feel at home.
Where the nandus come from
NABU, among others, reports that the nandus (Rhea americana) escaped from an open-air enclosure near Groß Grönau north of Lake Ratzeburg at the turn of the millennium. Contrary to expectations, the animals survived the winter, which was actually too cold for them, and their group has even grown steadily since then.
Since then, the nandus have been living in an area that stretches from western Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania to Schleswig-Holstein. They are mainly spotted at Lake Ratzeburg and Lake Schaalsee.
However, the animals are considered a potentially invasive species as they are not native to Germany and could disrupt ecosystems. Farmers who plant rapeseed, in particular, usually have little to laugh about, as the nandus feast on it and trample entire fields.
Why the ratites are still allowed to stay
For many years, attempts have therefore been made to deter the animals so that they disappear from agricultural land. The controlled destruction of nandu eggs is now also permitted. This involves carefully drilling holes in the eggs so that no new bird can hatch from them. Since 2020, hunting them has also been permitted.
However, Europe’s only wild population of nandu should not disappear completely, as the Schaalsee Biosphere Reserve reveals on its website. As they are endangered in their home countries, the animals are protected species and also enjoy special status in Germany under the Federal Nature Conservation Act.
However, the ratites are closely monitored. They are counted in March and November each year. There is even a Nandu Monitoring Working Group, which scientifically examines the populations and develops recommendations for management.
Nandus have special needs
The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture has published a 44-page guideline on the keeping of ostriches such as nandus, emus and African ostriches, probably also due to the good documentation and popularity of nandus. This shows how demanding the keeping of these wild animals actually is.
Obviously, the animals were able to escape from an inadequately secured enclosure and continue to reproduce in the wild. Therefore, for the ratites, which can reach heights of up to 1.50 meters, a fence of at least 1.70 meters high must be erected.
According to the BMEL report, nandus are also not particularly sensitive to the cold. Nevertheless, they need shelter from the wind and weather.
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Breeding is a man’s business for nandus
According to Section 11 of the Animal Welfare Act, appropriate expertise must also be demonstrated when keeping nandus. In addition to theoretical knowledge, practical experience with the animals must also be demonstrated.
The space requirements of adult nandus should also not be underestimated. They need an enclosure area of at least 500 square meters, but a minimum area of 250 square meters for each animal. This should also be spacious, but not too narrow. Their designation as ratites is no coincidence. They run through nature or enclosures at speeds of up to 60 km/h, sometimes quite suddenly.
They should be kept in pairs or in small groups of one cock and two hens, as two cocks usually don’t get along. Nandus are also known for their unique breeding behavior, where the males take on the role. Only the nandu cock broods and raises the chicks alone. For this reason, the male nandu must also be provided with a suitable breeding site.