Exotic animals threaten Leipzig's waters: Alarm in Probstheida!

Exotic animals threaten Leipzig's waters: Alarm in Probstheida!

Leipzig's waters are becoming increasingly popular because more and more exotic animals can be discovered there. Particularly striking are koi carp and sunfish, which have already established themselves in many of the city's waters. These animal newcomers not only bring color and diversity, but also ecological challenges. Loud Day24 The city of Leipzig has so far been known primarily for the presence of letter-eared turtles in the frog pond and magpie floodbed, but exotic animals such as koi carp and sunfish have also been spotted in the rainwater retention facility No. 47 in Probstheida.

The city has the challenge of documenting exotic species in its waters, but there is a lack of extensive information about species-specific occurrences, especially in Probstheida. Only once was it possible to catch an abandoned slider turtle. Exotic pets released into the wild pose a risk to local ecosystems. In order to limit the spread of invasive animal species such as sunfish, bodies of water are drained in individual cases. Since 2019, these have been considered invasive species in Europe and are thus displacing native fish populations.

The problem of invasive species

The reasons for the spread of invasive species are varied, including: Pro Wildlife explained. Global trade in goods, long-distance travel and the trade in exotic pets contribute significantly to the spread. This leads not only to damage to natural ecosystems, but also to health threats to native species and people. Around 900 neobiota species, i.e. species that survive and reproduce in foreign areas, are currently established in Germany. This corresponds to around 1% of the total of around 74,000 species native to Germany. The largest group among the neobiota are plants, followed by animals and fungi.

The reasons for this increase include improved transport options, which enable animals and plants to overcome natural barriers. While the climatic conditions in Germany have so far represented a limitation, climate change could make these hurdles disappear in the future, which could further promote the spread of invasive species. Sustainably addressing this challenge is therefore essential in order to protect biological diversity and not endanger isolated ecosystems, as the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) describes ( BfN ).

Legal framework and measures

The sale of letter-eared turtles has been banned in the EU since 2016 to limit the spread of invasive species. However, there are also numerous other animals that come to Germany through the exotic animal trade. The trade in exotic pets has led to import figures in the six-figure range annually for various reptiles. There is also a risk that invasive species will introduce diseases and parasites that threaten native animals.

Although abandoning such animals is a punishable offense, no one has been punished for these acts so far. The city's previous measures to curb invasive species have had only limited success. The challenges in the relationship between preserving the original biodiversity and dealing with new, invasive species remain a complex and multi-layered task for the city and the responsible authorities.