Souslik or European ground Squirrel is a small and endangered colonial animal from Central and Southeastern Europe. While it used to be hated pest species in agriculture, it is losing ground each year. It died out in Germany and Poland and is surviving in last isolated colonies in the Czech republic and Slovakia. Also Balkan populations are disappearing.
It is a species that activates only between April and end of August, it hibernates for the rest of the year. It needs grass that is kept very short by grazing or by mowing. If grass or scrubs gets higher, the whole colony is quickly whipped out by predators (worst predator is domestic cat). Their land needs to be well drained, heavy rain that floods their underground colony kills them, wet animals die within few hours.
The Czech AOPK (state agency for protection of endangered animals) runs a program for the species. Each remaining colony is protected, monitored and its land cultivated. Land owners get money to compensate them. Vineyards who tolerate colonies get promoted and can place a picture of a souslik on their bottles. The agency also runs reintroductions at several suitable places, usually grassy local airports. Zoos in Czech republic and Germany participate in breeding and supply dozens of young each year.
So far, souslik is not a popular zoo animal in Europe. Which is a pity. It is hardy. It is active during the day. It doesn´t need any structures or buildings. It doesn´t need any care/keeper for 7 slow months. It can be mixed with any hoofstock. It is small enough that it´s not dangerous even for smallest children. And it can be habituated to visitors to be fed and petted.
I don´t know any captive setting that would support contact between visitors and sousliks. However at least two wild colonies (Radouč/CZ and Muráň/SK) have tame animals and these places are increasingly popular among local tourists. I think it could be replicated in zoos and get popular.
It is a species that activates only between April and end of August, it hibernates for the rest of the year. It needs grass that is kept very short by grazing or by mowing. If grass or scrubs gets higher, the whole colony is quickly whipped out by predators (worst predator is domestic cat). Their land needs to be well drained, heavy rain that floods their underground colony kills them, wet animals die within few hours.
The Czech AOPK (state agency for protection of endangered animals) runs a program for the species. Each remaining colony is protected, monitored and its land cultivated. Land owners get money to compensate them. Vineyards who tolerate colonies get promoted and can place a picture of a souslik on their bottles. The agency also runs reintroductions at several suitable places, usually grassy local airports. Zoos in Czech republic and Germany participate in breeding and supply dozens of young each year.
So far, souslik is not a popular zoo animal in Europe. Which is a pity. It is hardy. It is active during the day. It doesn´t need any structures or buildings. It doesn´t need any care/keeper for 7 slow months. It can be mixed with any hoofstock. It is small enough that it´s not dangerous even for smallest children. And it can be habituated to visitors to be fed and petted.
I don´t know any captive setting that would support contact between visitors and sousliks. However at least two wild colonies (Radouč/CZ and Muráň/SK) have tame animals and these places are increasingly popular among local tourists. I think it could be replicated in zoos and get popular.
