Duinenpark Molenheide

[EliasNys]

A few years ago I visited a wildpark in Limburg with my family. Back then it had free roaming deer, boars sheep and likely other species I can't remember. I kind of forgot of its existence ( it isn't even listed on ZTL) until I saw a news article about it, stating that the park had been renovated and the ancient dunes had been restored. The deer are gone or are going to be removed. The boar are still present and have received a new enclosure. Has anybody else ever visited the park? And what species are still present?

The news article: Duinenpark Molenheide opent in Houthalen-Helchteren: "Een tweede adem voor uniek stukje Limburg" | VRT NWS: nieuws

 

[Standardiste]

A few years ago I visited a wildpark in Limburg with my family. Back then it had free roaming deer, boars sheep and likely other species I can't remember. I kind of forgot of its existence ( it isn't even listed on ZTL) until I saw a news article about it, stating that the park had been renovated and the ancient dunes had been restored. The deer are gone or are going to be removed. The boar are still present and have received a new enclosure. Has anybody else ever visited the park? And what species are still present?

The news article: Duinenpark Molenheide opent in Houthalen-Helchteren: "Een tweede adem voor uniek stukje Limburg" | VRT NWS: nieuws

According to the park's website, there are still ostriches, wild boars (from Asia?), ducks, hens, pheasants and peacocks in enclosures, as well as deer and roe deer roaming freely. Now I'm not sure if that's still the case following your previous message.

 

[EliasNys]

According to the park's website, there are still ostriches, wild boars (from Asia?), ducks, hens, pheasants and peacocks in enclosures, as well as deer and roe deer roaming freely. Now I'm not sure if that's still the case following your previous message.

I've never seen ostriches there, but I vaguely remember some Pheasant and hen enclosures indeed. Roe deer could also be possible but I've not seen them there. I had read somewhere that they were considering to remove the fences and removing the deer, but apparently that hasn't happened yet.

 

[Philipine eagle]

The Molenheide Wildlife Park is actually on the planned wildlife corridor between the 2 large military domains in the region, which are very important from a biodiversity point of view. I had actually hoped that the park would disappear completely. This is certainly the case for the industrial estate along the N715: this will disappear in the short term and an ecoduct will be built. Both sites are actually just the first stepping stones for the much-needed nature link. The next phases will be a lot more difficult because in the search zone there are a lot of active farms and scattered housing, and it was decided not to expropriate.