Orheiul Vechi reserve implements emergency wildlife feeding amid severe winter conditions
The administration of the Orheiul Vechi Cultural-Natural Reserve has launched an extensive emergency feeding operation to support local wildlife. Recent severe weather, characterized by fluctuating temperatures and freezing rain, has created a thick ice crust over the snow, preventing animals from accessing natural food sources.
To mitigate the risk of exhaustion and starvation, rangers are distributing daily rations across 14 strategic feeding stations. The reserve’s winter stocks, prepared since last summer, include approximately 1,000 bales of hay and over three tons of grain.
Monitoring and health assessment
These feeding points currently support more than 80 roe deer, as well as hares, wild boars, badgers, foxes, and jackals. The administration noted that the intervention is vital for the survival of ungulates during this critical seasonal bottleneck.
A network of 10 specialized camera traps provides the management team with constant oversight. These devices allow for precise population counts and health assessments while serving as a powerful deterrent against poaching activities within the 11,000-hectare protected area.
Targeted environmental intervention
The surveillance system has already identified specific animals in need of medical attention, including a fox showing signs of skin disease. This technological integration enables the reserve staff to monitor vulnerable specimens closely and intervene when necessary to maintain the ecosystem's balance.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
