animals

Porcupine spotted in Hungary, no one knows how it got here

porcupine

A porcupine was recently spotted in Hungary. No one knows how the animal got to Kiskunság National Park. Porcupines are not part of Hungary’s fauna. Nonetheless, one was captured by a trail camera near Bócsa on 18 November 2020.

While porcupines also have spines, they are actually not related to hedgehogs. Porcupines are rodents, and most specimens grow up to 60–90 cm long and weigh about 5–16 kg. They occur in various shades of brown, grey and white. They move slowly and use an aposematic strategy of defence. Porcupines’ spiny protection resembles that of the unrelated hedgehogs.

Porcupines are indigenous to Africa, but today they can be found in Italy and the Balkans too, Sokszínű Vidék writes. Porcupines are a very adaptable species, and they can be found in a wide variety of habitats, including forests, deserts, rocky outcrops, and hillsides. They can be found in rocky areas up to 3,700 m high.

They can also travel long distances in search for food. They do not hibernate, so they usually spend the winter months in holes. They are nocturnal but are occasionally active during daylight.

Porcupines do not belong to the Hungarian fauna. As National Park workers did not find any trace, they do not know how the animal got here or where it is now. The camera only captured it in the wild. The two most likely sceneries are that it came to Hungary through Serbia, or it escaped from captivity.

https://www.facebook.com/KiskunsagiNemzetiPark/posts/3759974220703254

Interestingly, this was the second time a specimen was spotted in Hungary. Another porcupine was captured in Szeged earlier this year.

If you have seen the porcupine, please contact the Nature Conservation Service of Kiskunság National Park at + 36 30 555 6171. It is important that everyone should refrain from trying to catch the animal, as it can be dangerous.

Porcupines are usually peaceful creatures, but when they feel threatened, they raise their quills and clatter their teeth, causing a warning noise to let predators know not to come closer. They attack by running sideways or backwards into their predators. A porcupine’s tail can swing in the direction of the predator. If contact is made, the quills could be impaled into the predator, causing injury or death.

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Hortobágy is among the top 25 destinations in the world according to National Geographic

Puszta Hungary Hortobágy Tourism

National Geographic has created a list of 25 destinations that will certainly inspire future travels for 2021, but the most surprising thing about this list is that the Hungarian Hortobágy region is among the 25 beautiful destinations along with places like Transylvania, Alaska, Korea, and a lot more.

You can browse National Geographic’s beautiful list, but we are going to give you a bit of a preview about the Hungarian Hortobágy region. The guide was written by the Hungarian Tamás Vitray, member of Nat Geo Traveller Hungary.

The Hortobágy National Park is a great destination to visit once travelling will be allowed again. It is located in the eastern part of Hungary, near the Tisza, and “the expansive World Heritage site preserves the largest remaining native grassland in Europe”. It is not only a culturally important part of Hungary as you can gain insight into the traditional lives and games of Hungarian herdsmen of the Great Plain almost entirely untouched for centuries, but for those who like the feeling and atmosphere of unspoilt nature, it is a must-visit place. As Tamás Vitray explains in the original article, the main reason that it is unspoilt is the high alkaline content which made cultivation almost entirely impossible.

Thanks to its natural “defence mechanism” against modern agricultural development, it was able to preserve history, tradition, and, most importantly, its “rich grassland ecosystem” that is entirely unique. The area has been under protection since ’73, and for this reason, it is a beloved tourist destination for nature lovers. Also, as Tamás Vitray highlighted, it is a birdwatcher’s paradise. Hortobágy is home to “some 340 bird species, including tens of thousands of winged fall migration travellers”. It is not only the best birdwatching destinations in Hungary, however, but it is also one of the best in Central Europe.

Do not worry even if birds are not your thing. One of the many things Hortobágy is most famous for is the csikós. They are herdsmen of horses and masters of horse riding. Once, they held an important place in Hungarian society, and their many skills are the proof why. They are very skilled riders and have a very strong bond with their own horses. According to Lovasok, there was a story about a German gentleman who said to a csikós that his dog is smarter than the horse of the Hungarian csikós. The gentleman said to the csikós that his dog is smarter because it can sit and lie down on command. Much to the surprise of the German, the horse of the csikós could do the same. Since then, it is part of the games of the csikós. Another one of their tools is the bullwhip. They make it by hand themselves and can use it as a weapon or to perform jaw-dropping tricks.

hortobágyi lovasok
Read alsoWatch the Hortobágy come to life – Photos

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Hungarian Greys, animal, Hungary, Hortobágy
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This Hungarian vizsla is the new star in the USA!

vizsla matka usa

The symbolic dog breed of Hungary, the Hungarian vizsla, is becoming more and more popular all around the world.

There is nothing cuter than a new-born Hungarian vizsla with its floppy ears and soft fur. Other than being irresistibly adorable, however, the Hungarian vizsla is excellent in hunting and training, too. Get one and it is guaranteed that it will help you get your daily exercise in, but they can also help you redecorate your house (sometimes without your consent) – no chance to get bored. Your Hungarian vizsla will be your perfect best friend.

The Hungarian vizsla that is guarding the Minnesota Capitol is truly a dream dog, Bors Online says. In 2016, Matka was 18 months old when, among many other dogs, she was chosen to join the security team due to her unbeatable smell, serenity, and friendliness. Her tasks include detecting bombs and maintaining the security of the building. She has a great responsibility guarding thousands of people’s lives on the daily. When she is not working, she spends her time cheering up the employees.

vizsla matka
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/startribune/photos/a.349517858017/10154678105063018/

Since last year, there are more Hungarian vizslas working at American airports’ security services. The Transportation Security Administration of the USA is in charge of the safety of people travelling in the states, so they are responsible for the protection of airports, too. All the public order agencies employ dogs, and since they realised that friendly-looking dogs do not make people feel uncomfortable, they switched to vizslas.

Hungarian vizslas conquering the internet

Another Hungarian vizsla living in Canada has become an Instagram star. Whiskey has travelled already half the world with her owners; they go on hikes, go canoeing, and they sleep in tents in the mountains. She also got another vizsla friend, Bourbon, and almost 130 thousand people are following their daily adventures.

 
 
 
 
 
A bejegyzés megtekintése az Instagramon
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

▶️? for some relaxation Some of my most peaceful moments this last month has been on the water. I’m in the Beach Oru Thierry is in the Bay Oru ⋗discount code⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ @orukayak WHISKEY10 #orukayak #sponsored #oruwhiskey

Whiskey and Bourbon (@mywhiskeygirl) által megosztott bejegyzés,

Another Hungarian vizsla, Murray, became internet famous in 2018 when his owner posted pictures about him on the roof of their house. Murray would climb up the roof every day to greet his beloved owner in a unique way when coming home from work.

Mutated variety of coronavirus strains found in Danish mink

american mink

Five so-called clusters of coronavirus mutations derived from farmed minks in Denmark have now been found in 214 people, and the most problematic “cluster 5” might have resistance to the antibodies with its “spike protein,” the Danish Statens Serum Insitute (SSI) has said.

“This is serious as it may mean that a future COVID-19 vaccine will be less effective against infection with these variants,” said the SSI in a bulletin released on its website.

“COVID-19 infection was registered in Denmark on 216 mink farms by Nov. 6,” the SSI said.

“Mink variants of the virus have been detected in 214 people among 5,102 samples that have been completely sequenced from week 24 to week 42, from the beginning of June to mid-October when there had been an outbreak of COVID-19 among minks.”

Of particular concern to the SSI is that the “cluster 5” mutation of the coronavirus discovered in minks has been shown in laboratory experiments to be less sensitive to antibodies, because the changed “spike protein” enables it to penetrate a cell.

“Specific virus from ‘cluster 5’ has been detected with four simultaneous changes in the genes for the ‘spike protein’ in five North Jutland mink farms and in 12 patient samples,” said the SSI.

“Concerns that there may be decreased susceptibility to antibodies from vaccines were of a theoretical nature. This concern has now become real after the trials that SSI first had results of on Nov. 2.”

Earlier, the Danish health authorities had reported the mutations of mink coronavirus to the World Health Organization.

The latest developments come in the wake of Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s announcement on Wednesday that up to 17 million farmed minks in Denmark must be culled due to the appearance of a special mutated version of the virus among minks that had passed on to humans.

On Thursday, the prime minister announced special restrictions that effectively lock down seven municipalities in Northern Jutland, where most of the country’s 1,137 mink farms are located.

From Saturday until Dec. 3, restaurants, cafes and bars will be closed, indoor sports events and cultural activities will be canceled and all forms of public transport will be shut down in the seven municipalities.

denmark border
Read alsoDenmark to ease travel restrictions to and from certain European states from June 27

Watch the Hortobágy come to life – Photos

hortobágyi lovasok

With the arrival of autumn, it is time for the St. Dömötör Day Collection Festival and Jib Festival.

With the onset of cold weather in Hortobágy, following the traditions of the old folk custom, the shepherds and their animals are preparing for winter. The animals are collected for their winter accommodation. On Saturday afternoon, shepherds, stocks, and dogcarts arrived at the famous Hortobágy Nine-Hole Bridge.

First, 200 sheep and 50 Hungarian merino crossed the bridge. According to Hajdú-Bihar County news portal, they were followed by the wranglers, with a whip in their hands. This was followed by the carriage of the Mátra Stud, the carriage of the brave, and the sheer five.

“This ancient tradition is more than one thousand and one hundred years old, a part of our culture, and it not only has practical significance but also represents our past,”

said Árpád Gergely Medgyesi, the managing director of Hortbágy Természetvédelmi és Génmegőrző Nonprofit Kft. (Hortobágy Nature Conservation and Gene Conservation Nonprofit Ltd.).

According to the tradition of the old system, the commissioned shepards also presented the stock, the offsprings, and the events of the recent period. In honour of the old shepherds, the Eternal Shepherds of Hortobágy were greeted. Furthermore, István Derencsényi was awarded the title of Photographer of Hortobágy. This is not the first time that Hortobágy has a wonderful sight.

Photo gallery: www.facebook.com/HortobagyiNemzetiParkIgazgatosag

Another big autumn attraction in Hortobágy is the migration of cranes. The cranes will start migrating in September and Hortobágy is their favorite place in Hungary. In the autumn, the Nature Conservation Service of the Hortobágy National Park counted 95.400 cranes.

The weather in the northern breeding areas cools, which triggers the migration of cranes. The steppes, fishponds and other wetlands of the Hortobágy are the most populous land resting places of the European route of cranes. The cranes staying here are measured weekly in the organization of the Hortobágy National Park. During the so-called synchronous counting, the observes lined up at the shallow water levels and fishponds serving as the overnight places of the cranes divide the line of sight among each other. In this way, the number of teams arriving on different retraction routes can be estimated with a good approximation. 

Based on the September data, as in the previous year, there was another sharp increase in the number of inviduals. The record values may be due to the succesful nesting season, or simply to the time phase shift of the migration compared to the previous year, or to the population rearrangement between the migration routes.

VIDEO of rat crawling into passenger’s neck – latest news from Budapest public transport

rat, street, Budapest, Hungary

Monday mornings are never easy, but this week, one Budapest commuter probably had it worse than any of us. He was on his way to work on Monday morning when the shocking rat incident happened. Hopefully, the government’s plans to modernise public transportation will include a better cleaning system.

András, a reader of Index took bus 108 E as he always does, but the commute did not go as smooth as he expected, Index reports.

András felt something crawling in his neck, so he brushed it off, thinking it was some kind of bug. However, he was mortified when he looked down and saw a rat running around on the seat right next to him.

After the initial shock, he started recording his travel companion on his phone, creating the video below.

Hopefully, the government’s plans to modernise the bus transportation in big cities will include an improved cleaning program as well as more environmentally-friendly vehicles.

Forbes reports that the Hungarian government wants every second bus to be environmentally friendly in all big Hungarian cities by 2030.

The Zöld Busz Demonstrációs Program (Green Bus Demonstration Program) has already finished in Debrecen and starts in October at Békéscsaba. With the help of this program, the government offers financial aid for the acquisition of electric buses. Bus manufacturers and distributors selling high-capacity direct current chargers of at least 100 or 150 kW are eligible to take part in the program.

Speaking of development and modernization, the upgrade of the middle section of metro line 3 starts on 7 November, hvg reports.

Metro line 3 skips the entire section from Nagyvárad tér to Lehel tér from 7 November 2020. Metroline M3 continues to operate between Kőbánya-Kispest and Nagyvárad tér and between Újpest-központ and Lehel tér. Replacement buses will be available between the section under construction. While replacement buses will be available every 45 seconds during rush hours on workdays, all passengers should expect longer travel times.

BKK recommends that only the passengers take the replacement bus M30 who wish to travel to the surrounding area of the two newly closed stations. For others, they highly suggest either changing to M1, M2, or M4, or getting on trams 4-6, 2, 47, or 49.

“The renovation will affect all traffic throughout Budapest and its agglomeration, causing inconvenience to many passengers over the next year and a half. While BKK and BKV will do their utmost to alleviate difficult traffic conditions, all commuters must be prepared for longer travel times. Those traveling by car ought to prepare for significant changes on Váci út, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út, Üllői út and Kiskörút.” – BKK stated.

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WOW! A bear walked on the streets in a Hungarian city – VIDEO

bear

A camera recorded in Miskolc how a brown bear walked on the tram rails on Sunday at dawn. The devices belong to the local government’s security body. 

Based on the videos, the bear visited a lot of streets between 0:30 and 0:49 am. Security guards immediately called the police, and the local government asked for the help of the Bükk National Park and their experts, 24 reported.

The video below shows the running bear in Miskolc for a couple of seconds.

https://www.facebook.com/100001643777550/videos/3726747050723384/

A couple of days before, locals found some bear footprints in Lyukóvölgy, a suburb of the North-East-Hungarian city on the muddy soil. Furthermore, on the fence of a house, they found some of the bear’s fur. The local government asked the police and members of the militia to draw the attention of the locals to how dangerous a bear can be for human lives.

The experts of the national park said that everybody should avoid any encounter with a bear, even if they are still bear cubs, because their mother could be around somewhere, and such situations can be deadly for any of us. Therefore, everybody going on a trip to a forest should stick to the tourist routes. Moreover, nobody should do so before dawn or after dark, and we should make as much noise as possible to warn the bears nearby. Finally, if we meet a bear, we should not try to run away or attack it because it is stronger and faster than us. If it approaches us, we should not provoke it, and we should not move too fast, either.

Hungarian pilgrim travels Europe with his donkey companion

Roland Banka and his 16-year-old travel companion, Rocinante, have been exploring Europe for seven years together. Roland even wrote a 300-page-long essay about their adventures, which will be available from next week.

Roland Banka’s name can be familiar to some, as he made the news when he boarded a train with his donkey, Rocinante, sonline.hu writes. The pair have travelled half of Europe together in the last seven years. They have been to Italy, Spain, and France, among others.

Their journey together started when Roland decided to move abroad, and one of his friends suggested getting a donkey travel mate as a joke. Roland took the advice quite literally, and he bought Rocinante in Spain and set out on their first journey together: the Camino de Santiago, also known as the Way of St. James.

It is a network of pilgrimages leading to the shrine of Saint James the Great in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain.

Roland’s original plan was to sell Rocinante after the journey in Spain, but he was unable to part ways with his loyal travel companion. He felt a kind of responsibility for the animal, and the two eventually developed a therapeutic relationship and worked as one throughout their many adventures across Europe.

Pilgrim and donkey
Photo: Facebook.com/rolandyrocinante/

“People have been very kind to us. Rocinante often receives carrots, and I am often offered a cup of good coffee,” Roland said.

Roland started writing a book about their travels in 2019, which he finished in the spring of 2020. The 300-page essay can be bought directly from him. Besides the funny stories about their adventures, the book also contains spiritual thoughts. The book will debut next week in Kaposvár (in front of the library), after which Roland and Rocinante will head to Marcali, then Veszprém. Their team was recently joined by new companions, including a goat named Bolha.

Pilgrim and donkey
Photo: Facebook.com/rolandyrocinante/

If you are interested in the pair’s upcoming adventures, follow their Facebook page, which will keep you updated.

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Resumption of poultry exports to Thailand and Japan from all parts of Hungary possible

poultry-farm-chicken

Thailand and Japan are allowing imports of poultry produce from all parts of Hungary from October 7 and October 8, respectively, Hungary’s food safety authority (NÉBIH) said on Monday.

The authorities of the two countries are lifting the restrictions thanks to the eradication of bird flu, NÉBIH said on its website, adding the measure applied to live poultry, meat and meat products, as well as eggs and egg products.

Many major export markets, including Thailand and Japan, only impose restrictions on areas directly affected by the disease. On Sept. 8, Hungary was declared free of the disease. The last affected areas were Bács-Kiskun and Békés counties.

EU on alert for new bird flu outbreaks

The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) on end of September urged the member states of the European Union (EU) to step up their surveillance and bio-security measures against possible outbreaks of avian influenza (bird flu) this year.

The warning came after outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) among wild and domestic birds in western Russia and Kazakhstan over the past few months, the ECDC said in a press release. The region is a known autumn migration route for wild water birds heading to Europe, it added.

Based on past bird migration data, northern and eastern Europe are considered to be the most vulnerable regions to new outbreaks. Moreover, the urgency of the warning increases if temperatures in the already affected areas were to suddenly drop, the ECDC said.

Assessing the risk of transmission of avian influenza viruses to the general public in Europe as “very low,” the report recommends that EU states immediately increase bio-security measures at poultry farms in particular, and advises warning veterinary and wildlife health authorities of the likely risk and urging them to promptly test dead or sick wild birds.

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Did you know that the writer of Bambi is also of Hungarian origins?

Hungary Bambi movie book

Felix Salten published his world-famous book, Bambi, in 1923, and Walt Disney made an even more famous animated film from it in 1942. However, only a few know that Mr Salten was of Hungarian origins.

According to Index, Mr Salten was born on September 6, 1869, under the name of Zsigmond Salzmann in Budapest. He was the grandson of an Orthodox rabbi. When he was only four weeks old, his family moved to Vienna, Austria. That is because the city granted full citizenship to Jews in 1867, so many Jews immigrated there during the late 19th century. Since his father became bankrupt, he could not finish his schooling, and the 16-year-old boy started to work for an insurance agency. He also began submitting poems and book reviews to journals.

As a result, he could start working as a journalist and editor for the Allgemeine Kunst-Chronik or the Frankfurter Zeitung. He was always interested in literature and wrote analyses and papers about poems and books.

He became famous thanks to his obituary written about Emile Zola. 

He was a well-known literary critic and published his works including essays, novels, and guide books one after the other, one book per year on average. Since antisemitism was growing in the 1930s, he had to leave Austria. After he went to Switzerland, the German government banned all his works. He lived in Zürich until his death on October 8, 1945.

His most famous work is Bambi, a coming-of-age novel,

originally published in Berlin by Ullstein Verlag. The novel traces the life of Bambi, a male roe deer, from his birth through childhood, the loss of his mother, the finding of a mate, the lessons he learns from his father, and the experience he gains about the dangers posed by human hunters in the forest.

It was translated into English in 1928. The novel was well-received by critics and is considered a classic, as well as

one of the first environmental novels.

Walt Disney Productions adapted the story into a theatrical animated film in 1942 titled Bambi. Interestingly, two Russian live-action adaptations were made in 1985 and 1986, a ballet in 1987, and a stage production in 1998. Janet Schulman published a children’s picture book adaptation in 2000 that featured realistic oil paintings and many of Salten’s original words.

Hungary’s top predators are back! This is how animals can be protected

Wolf predator Hungary

Concerning the health of our natural environment, it is quite a positive phenomenon that in recent years, the iconic predators of Hungary have returned to their homeland. However, it is still not easy to ensure that these highly protected, ecologically beneficial animals live in a balanced way with humans. Let us see the possible solutions.

In Europe, large carnivores are categorised into four species, based on which we can say that by now all top three native predators of Hungary have returned to their homeland.

  • Brown bear – several specimens appear in Hungary, mainly in the North Hungarian Mountains where living conditions are the most favourable.
  • Grey wolf – they live in the North Hungarian Mountains, including the Aggtelek Karst and the Bükk and Zemplén Mountains where several wolf herds were spotted, consisting of 6-10 individuals. Some specimens were also found in the Börzsöny Mountains and Somogy and Baranya Counties.
  • Eurasian lynx – they lead a lonely, hidden lifestyle in the Börzsöny, Bükk, Mátra, Zemplén, and Aggtelek Karst areas.
  • Wolverine – native to the Scandinavian region.

Typically, all three species avoid humans; however, this does not mean that new specimens may not appear in new places; still, the growth of their number is insignificant.

According to Dr László Patkó, the appearance of large carnivores have a positive effect on the environment. Consequently, forests could regenerate and the loss of agricultural land could be reduced, as a result of which more natural habitat could be provided for the protected species of flora and fauna.

Besides these beneficial factors, the presence of large carnivores has a dangerous side effect as well if we consider their wildness towards other animals.

Therefore, keeping animals in closed night shelters or under constant supervision is quite recommended.

There are several unique solutions, by which farmers can defend themselves and their animals, including an electric shepherd and watchdogs.

As Hungarian news portal 24 reports, a good example was seen in Zemplén. The sheep were sleeping on the meadow, surrounded by  an electric fence, when a wolf came by, looking for a weak point in the fence. However, two watchdogs appeared on the other side, as a result of which the wolf finally left. Thanks to the double defence that was realised by combining the traditional method and modern technology, the predator had no chance to attack the targeted animals.

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Foreign residents to compete in 2020 National Gallop

national gallop

Due to travel restrictions related to the coronavirus epidemic the foreign jockeys competing in the 13th National Gallop (Nemzeti Vágta) will be residents of Hungary, organisers told MTI on Tuesday.

The races will be held at Budapest’s Heroes’ Square on a track specially built for the purpose, on Saturday and Sunday.

The 72 participants riding horses from the Bábolna National Horse Farm will represent Croatia, Slovakia, Romania, Mexico, India, Mongolia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Serbia and Hungary.

The races and accompanying programmes will be broadcast live by public Duna Television.

What’s the National Gallop?

According to the official page Vagta.hu, the National Gallop is the grandest of festivals on the grandest of scales. Organized for the 12th time since its inception in 2008, we can still call the National Gallop a rather new Hungarian tradition – or should we say, a monumental reinvention of history and tradition.

Just imagine. Spacious and awe-inspiring Heroes’ Square, transformed into a racetrack with 6,200 square meters’ worth of special equine-friendly sand. Grandstands in front of the two museums that flank the square, the biggest screens you’ve ever seen broadcasting the action, flags flying – the excitement will be palpable… And they’re off! Young jockeys, modern-day hussars on horseback, tear around the track. Hooves are pounding, dirt is flying, the crowd is cheering. Again and again, since as many as 250 horses and riders will compete for the 11.6-million-forint cash prize, a glittering sword, and national glory. Prepare for a particularly exciting event this year, as there will also be mock horseback battles, amazing archers shooting arrows on gallop- ing horses and even race carriage-driving! The carriages that’ll be competing have been created especially for this racetrack. They may have a vintage look but they feature the latest technology inside, so get ready for a rough ride! Imagine Ben Hur in Formula One. The chariot race is a truly breath-taking experience, which required the competitors to undergo an exhausting preparation and training. 

national gallop hungary danube swim
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Invasion of stink bugs to be represented on brand-new map of Hungary

Two years ago, stink bugs were an unknown species in Hungary in the sense that they were rarely seen. In the past two years, though, their numbers increased rapidly due to climate change that makes living conditions more appropriate for them in the country.

HVG reported that stink bugs – several species – are flooding the country with the beginning of autumn. During the summer season, people can “meet” these animals outside, but, as stink bugs also feel the cold, they move into indoor places like our living room, for the lack of a better option.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons by Yermo

Mostly alone, but even in small groups, stink bugs can make our lives difficult in our own home.

The Facebook page called Sokk Rovar is trying to measure under two weeks which are the areas of Hungary where the most stink bugs are seen. Some species cannot be found in some parts of the country as of yet, but it is only a question of time until they flood these areas too. By filling out an online form, everyone can report the stink bug situation in Hungary.

Sokk a rovar, stink bug, map, Hungary
Photo: www.facebook.com/sokkarovar

The other aim of the map is to help the work of scientists and biologists, as these animals only appeared in the past two years in Hungary. Several types of research and more samples are needed to get to know more stink bugs.

Mostly green- and brown-coloured stink bugs can be found in Hungary, but as living conditions are getting better for them, it is inevitable to report about new species that appear in the country suddenly.

stink bug invasion hungary
Read alsoWatch out! Stink bug invasion is soon coming to Hungary again

Rat invasion is causing serious problems in many Hungarian cities

rat budapest hungary

Authorities across the country and in many districts of Budapest are struggling to keep up with the growing rat population, and the peaks are only expected to hit in the coming weeks.

Several major cities from all parts of Hungary have reported sightings of rats in the street and in private areas, writes Nlc. These rodents cause lots of trouble throughout the year, but October is considered a peak season in their reproduction, besides April and May. As a pest control told Blikk,

“If you see a rat somewhere, it probably means that there are many more in that area. Rats usually give birth to 9–10 pups at a time.”

It has been several weeks now that cities like Esztergom, Miskolc, and Nagykőrös have been suffering from an unusual volume of the rat population. Authorities in the city of Győr, for example, even had to perform emergency extermination in September.

In Budapest, the phenomenon is a long-standing problem. The most problematic areas are usually in the city centre (the latest sightings are from Deák Ferenc Square and Jászai Mari Square), but peripheral areas such as District 18 are also affected.

As the authorities say, extermination is very important as rats spread multiple diseases, such as tularaemia and murine typhus. They can also cause serious damage to drainage systems and the insulation of buildings. During extermination, pest control place poisoned food in sealed boxes in sewers and other critical areas, but as Blikk writes, individual protection is just as important.

Always store litter in closed garbage bags and containers, install mosquito nets, and check your doors and windows regularly for holes and cracks.

If you see rats or notice any signs that rats live in a certain area, report it to the authorities immediately. For rat sightings in Budapest, go to www.rnbh.hu/panaszbejelento, or write an email to pa******************@gm***.com with your address and phone number.

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Read alsoBudapest is no longer a rat-free capital city

WOW! This is why the Hungarian dinosaur egg is so special

The Hungarian Natural History Museum presented the first dinosaur egg found in Hungary on Thursday in the presence of the rector of the Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, and the vice president of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. The artefact is 85 million years old, and experts found it in Iharkút, Veszprém County, where the Hungarian dinosaur research expedition led by dr Attila Ősi has been working for two decades.

According to 24, dr Edina Prondvai, who is a paleobiologist, a member of the expedition, and a fellow scientist of the MTM-ELTE Paleontology Research Group, found the egg and published her findings. 24 asked her about the discovery.

Ms Prondvai said that the egg is small,

only 3-4 centimetres long,

and it consists of two parts that do not match. It is like a crow egg. Interestingly, they found a lot of shell fragments in the region, so that is why they thought there should be eggs around. There was no embryo in it, and they could not find the nest of the family as of yet.

Determining the species of the dinosaur that laid it is almost impossible since, for that, scientists had to find the “mother”. It is not unique to find such eggs,

but it is still rare luck.

The clade of the egg is the Maniraptora, which were small, feathered animals, and all birds derive from them. However, nobody knows whether such animals were still dinosaurs 85 million years ago or rather birds, she said.

The size of the parents is between crows and chickens. Among the relatives of the Maniraptoran are the velociraptors or the oviraptors. They were predators as well, eating smaller birds and mammals.

Hungary dinosaur animal nature
A velociraptor. Photo: https://hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velociraptor#/media/F%C3%A1jl:Velociraptor_dinoguy2.jpg

Their environment was very different since, in Veszprém County, the climate was subtropical 85 million years ago. Therefore, the terrain where the egg was found was the flood plain of rivers, so the forests were under water during most of the year, and it could have happened that she left the nest.

The Hungarian egg is unique because of its form. Experts have said before that a dinosaur egg cannot have such form. Later, a Korean group was able to prove that the Hungarian scientists were right. There are many fragments in Europe from such eggs, but the only fully maintained one is in Hungary.

The Hungarian meat industry to collapse?

swine flu animal

The appearance of the African swine fever in Germany can result in severe problems both in the European and the Hungarian meat industry. China already banned German pork products which means that they are going to flood the European markets, causing a significant decrease in the prices and long-lasting headache for most of the farmers.

According to Magyar Nemzet, the African swine fever is harmless on humans, but it is already present in wild boars in Germany. That fact was enough for China to ban all German meat products from its markets. China is one of the most important markets of the pork products since

swine fever killed masses in the country, and authorities did that, as well, to contain its spread.

Tamás Éder, president of the Hungarian Meat Association, confirmed that the German pork products stuck in Europe might cause severe problems for the sector in Hungary, as well. The German prices already started to fall, which can cause a similar effect in Hungary, too, he added.

 

 

On the market of the European Union, pork meat products will be cheap since they will appear in large quantities. However, those countries, that can export their meat products to China can take advantage of the current situation. 

Therefore, Mr Éder added that retailers should not buy cheap German products but should choose the Hungarian ones like before to avoid the collapse of the sector. The biggest trade union of the European farmers, the Copa-Cogeca, said in its statement that all stakeholders in the industry should remain calm. They highlighted that thanks to the strict European regulations and the quick reaction of the German authorities,

there is a real chance that the further spread of the African swine fever can be stopped.

They reminded that the German authorities found infected wild boars near the Polish border, in Brandenburg, but there are not too many pig farms in the region. Thus, the organisation asks all market players to take into consideration all measures authorities introduced to stop the spread of the virus.

Between January and May, the Hungarian meat of swine export volume decreased by 19 pc to 12 thousand tonnes compared to the quantity sold abroad in 2019. Hungarian companies export most of the meat to Romania, Croatia and Italy. György Vámos, general secretary of the Hungarian Trade Associations, said before that German meat products could appear in the Hungarian market but 

retailer chains have long term contracts so they would not have that massive effect on the sector.

Keep your fingers crossed for “Blue” the newborn stork who suffered an electric shock

White stork Blue electric shock
In recent years, several white storks have suffered severe injuries due to electric shock even though the local bird rescuer of Dömös, András Márton requested the power company to replace all killer medium-voltage wires and poles with underground cables. But in vain…
This is not the first loss of the bird rescuer who has already lost one of his beloved storks due to an electric shock that caused such severe injuries that the bird did not manage to survive.
A few days ago, a newborn stork “Blue” had a life-saving operation in Dömös. Despite his young age, the bird’s kid is already a tragedy; he has suffered electric shock twice, and he might not survive the injuries.
As the Hungarian news portal Sokszínű Vidék reports, the injured bird went through a thorough examination. The tip of the wing is missing due to the first electric shock, along with four large feathers, so he cannot walk or manoeuvre properly. On the wingtip, four feathers were cut in a needle and the wound was blown with antiseptic spray; new feathers will not grow here. Due to a previous electric shock, his right leg is 2-3 inches shorter; as a result of which, the stork will limp forever.
When the beak heals, a prosthesis is placed on the stump using carbon fabric and epoxy so he can eat and drink on his own. As the beak continues to grow – and if Blue is lucky and the living tissue is not severely damaged – then the missing part could theoretically grow back in 3-6 years.
The good news is that Blue has been drinking on his own since the rescue.
https://www.facebook.com/marton.vlad.andras/videos/1821649937977442/
As András Márton reveals – it is still not sure whether Blue will survive or not; so hold on, little bird!
 
Read also:

Balaton to become algae-infested swamp – researchers warn

Tihany Peninsula

Dr Ferenc Jordán, the network researcher biologist of the Balaton Limnological Institute, has a gloomy outlook for the Hungarian sea if we do not start taking better care of it. The researcher has some ideas about what should be done in order to avoid the worst possible outcome.

Dr Ferenc Jordán, network researcher biologist and Director of Centre for Ecological Research, Balaton Limnological Institute (BLI) gave an interview to thevip.hu. He believes there is no real union for lake Balaton, which can lead to an ecological catastrophe.

If things do not change, Balaton can become a green, algae-infested swamp.

Universities and research centres are examining the lake on a regular basis, building a collective knowledge about the lake. Still, unfortunately, decisions are not being made with this knowledge in mind. What happens to the lake is primarily determined by a handful of people, investors, politicians, etc. Businesses and building up the shores are more important than what is best for nature.

At BLI, Tihany, researchers are constantly examining the lake from various aspects, and they all come to the same conclusion: the clearing of green spaces (forests, meadows, and reed) should be strictly forbidden. Unfortunately, it is very easy to find loopholes in the current regulations, and the fee for illegal clearing is also minimal, huge investments easily pay them. We also should not let them build up the shores.

New data reveals that the baits used for fishing also pose a severe phosphorus-loading in the lake.

Dredging (a standard remediation method that uses large excavating equipment to remove sediment from the lake and river bottoms) is a controversial method. Some researchers support it, others deem it useless, and the rest believe it does more harm than good. Jordán supports more research to be done to be sure of what is best for the lake. However, he emphasises how hard it is to research with such little data available.

It is also important not to have any constant disturbance in the lake so that the systems can harmonise with each other. The lake’s ecosystem cannot set in if there is continuous interference, contamination, and emergence of new invasive species.

Good news is that there is currently no problem with external contaminants that got into the water. The filtration and decantation systems built in the 1980s and 1990s seem to work well.

Balaton lángos Hungary tourism
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