Shortly before Christmas, the wild animal and species protection center got the next addition of otters. The little otter girl Henriette clung to a fisherman for protection and was completely dehydrated. “It was December 23rd, the day before Christmas, and other animal welfare organizations had refused help. It was immediately clear to us: Henriette is coming to us!” says Erdmann. In January 2023, the wild animal and species protection center finally took over another otter girl from the Stralsund zoo.
Because orphan Henry was bottle-reared for several weeks, he is now being weaned from humans and has closer contact with the other otters at the station. «Unfortunately, Henry isn’t very nice to the other two otters, but he’s increasingly finding his way back to his wild nature,» says operations manager Erdmann.
While the teenage boy Henry isn’t particularly fond of his female counterparts, the two otter girls get along very well. “We try to minimize human contact, which is why the two are very wild. That’s a good thing, even if the necessary medical examinations are always a challenge. If all goes well we can release them in August.”
The wild animal and species protection center just outside Hamburg takes care of injured and orphaned birds of prey, foxes, hares, wild boars and many other native wild animals in need. Exotics in need of help from private keeping that is not appropriate to their species or abandoned wild animals that are used to humans also find refuge with Christian and Katharina Erdmann. The ultimate goal of the wildlife and species protection center is always reintroduction to the wild after successful rehabilitation. So-called invasive wildlife species such as raccoons or American mink, animals that are not allowed to be released back into the wild, find a permanent home on the 2.6 hectare site in Klein Offenseth-Sparrieshoop. Every year, more than 2,500 injured, orphaned or helpless wild animals are handed in and cared for in the wild animal station run by Christian and Katharina Erdmann.
Since 2010, the international animal welfare foundation has been supporting the committed team at the sanctuary with an annual grant of 100,000 euros.
You can find more information about ‘ commitment to wildlife here.
Christian Erdmann is available for interviews.