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Project

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Hungarian Ornithological and Nature Conservation Society - MME BirdLife Hungary

File (digital)

2009

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CONVIPURSRAK - Conservation of Hungarian meadow viper (Vipera ursinii rakosiensis) in the Carpathian-basin LIFE07 NAT/H/000322 Partners: Directorate of Kiskunság National Park,Hungary Directorate of Fert&337;-Hanság NationalPark, Hungary Nationalpark NeusiedlerSee-Seewinkel, Austria Budapest Zoo, HungarySchönbrunn Zoo Vienna, Austria CompoundEye Film Ltd. Research Institute of WildlifeEcology Vienna, Austria Background: The Hungarian meadow viper (Vipera ursinii rakosiensis) is Europe's mostendangered venomous snake. It has been protected since 1974 in Hungary, whereit is the country's most endangered vertebrate. Studies have indicated that thereare now less than 500 individuals in Hungary, in two small and isolatedpopulations: one in the Hanság (North-western region) and the other in theKiskunság (plains between the Danube and Tisza rivers). Both areas haveprotection designations, but the species continues to experience decliningpopulation trends. Some success at reintroducing the species has been achievedthrough work carried out at the Hungarian Meadow Viper Conservation Centre. Objectives: The CONVIPURSRAK LIFE project aimed to increase the population of Hungarianmeadow viper through a series of direct actions, including increasing habitat sizethrough grassland reconstruction and the release of vipers into natural habitats.Accompanying these actions, the project planned an extensive public awarenessprogramme aimed at reducing concerns about the risks of reintroducingvenomous snakes. To this end, zoos were used as partners to boost publicsupport for the project. Results: The CONVIPURSRAK LIFE project succeeded in increasing the population size ofthe critically endangered Hungarian meadow viper. The beneficiaries significantlyincreased the area of continuous viper habitat by almost 400 ha, including the purchase of more than 80 ha of land that is now under the control of NationalPark administrations in Hanság and Kiskunság. This land is suitable for thelong-term sustainable management of extensive grassland that is favourable forthe viper species. Grassland reconstruction activities included the removal ofinvasive plant species (e.g. common milkweed and tree of heaven) and areduction in the area covered by tree plantations, with grass being reseeded incleared areas. In total, habitat reconstruction increased the area of continuouspotential viper habitat to over 1 600 ha in Hanság. In Kiskunság National Park(KNP), important land was purchased within a core viper population area (upperPeszéradacs meadows), which is extensively grazed by livestock. These areas areprotected areas at national level and are included in the Natura 2000 network.Management plans have been drawn up, for example, with regulationsprohibiting machinery and the use of fertilisers, and obliging tenant farmers touse extensive grazing methods. The technology used by the farmers on this landis not only compatible with the conservation of wildlife, but can also beprofitable for the farmers through the sale of bio-quality products'. The project moved forward the captive breeding programme for Hungarianmeadow viper, which was launched by the previous viper LIFE project (LIFE04NAT/HU/000116). Innovative aspects introduced to the programme by the newLIFE project included the design and production of artificial burrows. In total,242 vipers were successfully reintroduced into their natural habitats at threesites (two in Kiskunság and one in Hanság). Valuable information about thebehaviour of the reintroduced vipers was obtained through radio-tagmonitoring, using a methodology using innovative radiotelemetry tags developedby the project team. The project also made improvements to measuring, sampling and specific genetic marker techniques for vipers. Natura 2000 sites: SCIAT1110137 - Neusiedler See - Nordöstliches Leithagebirge SCIHUFH30005 - Hanság SCIHUKN20003 - Fels&337;-kiskunsági turjánvidék SCIHUKN20024 - Bócsa-bugaci homokpuszta SCIHUFH20002 - Fertö tó