Endangered hamsters delay school construction in Germany

Tengrinews.kz - Germany faces an unusual challenge as plans to build two new schools have been stalled due to the presence of 39 wild hamsters on the proposed site, according to DW.

These hamsters are protected species listed in the Red Book and cannot be displaced without proper relocation.

To ensure the hamsters' well-being, authorities have decided to invest 2.5 million euros in their relocation, which translates to about 64,000 euros per hamster. This substantial cost aims to provide a suitable new habitat for the animals, ensuring they thrive in their new environment.

While waiting for the relocation of the rodents, the pupils of the two schools that exist only on paper will study in the buildings of other educational institutions. Construction of the schools is planned to start only by the end of 2026, and to be completed by the summer of 2029.