In the Swiss town of Forel, fawns nestling in farmers’ fields face danger from heavy agricultural machinery.
But a group of volunteers are taking action to protect the young deer, with the help of drones.
“Our goal is to find them and make them safe.”
Deer tend to leave fawns in fields while they forage for food, returning later for their offspring.
While awaiting their mothers’ return, fawns remain completely still, making them vulnerable to harm by farm machinery.
Hundreds of fawns have been inadvertently killed or mutilated in Swiss agricultural fields.
It’s prompted the Fawn Rescue Foundation to take action.
Established in 2018, the group fly drones high above farmers’ fields, using thermal imaging to detect the presence of fawns.
They conduct their search early, before the sun heats up the grass.
Once found, the young animal is then carefully covered with a wooden crate with a flag on top.
This allows farmers, like David Huber, to steer clear of fawns while reaping or mowing their property.
“It’s a relief. For the harvest, we don’t have much time these days, it’s going to rain again on Thursday, so I’ve lost a day, but not for nothing. It’s great we were able to save two fawns.”
Former banker Roger Stettler volunteers with the Fawn Rescue Foundation.
“We save 320 to 330 fawns per year. So it’s not much, but in Switzerland, the number of fawns killed by machinery every year is between 2,000 and 2,500. If each district saves one hundred, it’s still one hundred that are not killed by machinery.”
(Reuters)