The new Graz drone service will help rescue 25,000 baby deer annually

A very important step in animal welfare in Austria

Graz Vice Mayor and City Councilor for Animal Welfare, Mario Eustacchio, presented the “fawn drone” on 7 June 2021. This service aims to prevent the deaths of over 25,000 baby deer, killed during the mowing season.

The end of May and the beginning of June is the time when fawns are born. During the first few weeks of their life, they lie alone in the tall grass. Their mothers consciously move away from them, visiting only to suckle them, because they do not want to attract predators. At the same time, however, farmers also begin mowing the meadows for the first time in the year.

Mowing season is very dangerous for baby deer

The fawns are not able to flee on their own, and farmers have a hard time seeing them in the tall grass. The result is fawns getting unintentionally slaughtered during the process The estimate for Austria is around 25,000 per year.

The city of Graz has purchased a “fawn drone”, equipped with a thermal camera, specifically for finding baby deer in the tall grass. Councilor Mario Eustacchio said that animal welfare is very important for the city of Graz, as this important step makes them pioneers in Austria.

Dr Klaus Hejny, a veterinary surgeon for the city of Graz, was proud to offer this new service, capable of saving countless fawn lives.

The city offers it for free

It seems that the Graz City Council prioritises the life of baby deer rather than charge a fee for the service. The farmers can request the drone for free from the veterinary management of the city. The grass in the specified area is then searched and a trained professional comes to properly remove any baby deer hiding in the grass, relocating them to a safe place. Experts also warn people not to handle the animals as they are very delicate.

This new service from the city of Graz will save a lot of lives. And farmers can mow their property with a clear conscience.