Three New Buffaloes Released
Three domestic water buffaloes were released on July 10 in the protected area of the Middle Reservoir of the Nové Mlýny Water Reserve , at the project site "Husí pastviště".
This is the first protected area in the South Moravia Region where these animals will help maintain a diverse mosaic of wetland vegetation. Our partners from the South Moravian Branch of the Czech Society for Ornithology have prepared everything and take good care of the buffaloes. Thanks to the wonderful support of the PR Department of the Masaryk University, the event has had a great publicity on TV, on air and in press.
A trio of buffalo cows are roaming an area of about 5.5 ha in a newly installed mobile electric pen since today. The buffalo cows will mainly graze here on reeds and goldenrod, which often overgrow the protected wetlands and thus crowd out all other plant species. The result of such overgrowth is a uniform jungle of tall-forbs, where not much else grows or lives. By grazing out parts of the monotonous vegetation, the buffaloes will gradually create a mosaic of varying habitats and create better conditions for a diversity of insects, birds, amphibians and small mammals.
Domestic water buffaloes, often referred to as domestic buffaloes, have been bred in Europe since at least Roman times, and mainly in the southern Europe. There are many examples of good practice where buffalo grazing helps with the maintenance of protected areas. They can be found in Hungary, Austria, Slovakia or even in the Hradec Králové region (Czech Republic). The new buffalo trio have been kindly lent from the Ohař buffalo farm in Mirovice.
Their presence will help mimic all the natural processes that used to be provided for by the roaming herds of large herbivores in the past.
The buffaloes are perfectly suited to the wetland’s conditions. They require low-maintenance, are not picky about fodder and of a peaceful and friendy nature. They tolerate the waterlogged environments very well. They absolutely love wallowing in mud, which will also helps expandthe shallow pools. These are then used by many species of amphibians and insects.
Grazing of the buffaloes is possible thanks to the kind support of the Regional Authority Office of the South Moravia and Povodí Moravy.
