Police pursued and captured a kangaroo in Budapest in the early hours of Sunday, the capital’s law enforcement HQ said on Facebook.
Police chased the kangaroo for 5-6 kilometres in the Csepel district in the south of the capital before capturing it in a blanket, without injury. The marsupial was brought to the Budapest zoo. The police could not immediately determine from where the kangaroo escaped or the identity of its owner.
Summer break is already here and with all that time off from school you may have to wreck your brain sometimes for activities to keep the little ones entertained. We have good news for you, Budapest is brimming with fun summer programmes for kids. We have gathered the 10 best ideas for your family regardless of whether you live here or are coming for holidays. Get ready for a whole summer packed with excitement, discovery and adventure!
The miniature pony farm sits on the edge of Normafa, and is a hidden gem of all things small, cute, and cuddly. Children can make new furry friends with tiny ponies, donkeys and pigs while exploring the farm and participating in fun daily events.
The Palace of Wonders, also known as the Center of Scientific wonders aims to show the beauty of science and technology to the young generation. The 5,000 m2 entertainment centre with over 250 games will leave your children amazed and wanting to come back for more.
Located in the 3rd district, Római-parti Plázs, Budapest’s only free beach on the Danube is soon to reopen after nearly half a century. Beachgoers can have a splash between 15 July and 21 August in panoramic natural settings. Your family’s safety is guaranteed by the Danube Coast First Aid Service of the Hungarian Red Cross.
Read more: Budapest’s only free beach on the Danube reopens! – PHOTOS
Located only 15-minutes away from Budapest, in Mogyoród, Aquarena awaits families with an extensive waterslide system and weekly events for kids. Dinosaur and Africa-themed pool parties set the mood for children who can take part in various fun activities such as animator shows, dance clubs, mini disco and numerous water games.
Visitors can enjoy concerts, interactive exhibitions, creative spaces, and music education activities in the House of Hungarian Music. The institution organises several open-air free events and concerts for children this summer for which check out their programme calendar.
Take your children to Budapest’s green oasis, Margaret Island to get some fresh air and enjoy the many free open-air concerts, events and puppet shows the Margaret Island Theatre holds every Saturday and Sunday for families.
Green adventures await children just 20 minutes from the city centre. Stroll around the park and get eye-to-eye with 50 different species. With a fantastic range of experiences to enjoy, you are sure to love your day at the Budakeszi Wildlife Park.
When the urban heat gets unbearable, indoor air-conditioned play centres offer a refreshing relief. Local families’ top favourite spots are Elevenpark in Újbuda with its 3000 m2 play area and MOM Park Play Centre. Football courts, crawling tunnels, inflatable castles and many more soft play opportunities await the little ones.
When the thermometer hits 35° C, escape the heat and bring the whole family to explore the underground beauties of Budapest’s numerous caves. Our favorite picks are the Pálvölgyi Stalagmite Cave, Szemlő Mountain Cave and the thermokarstic Molnár János Cave.
One of Budapest’s most unique sights, the line of the Children’s Railway stretches among the lush Buda Hills. Unlike other railways though, this one is run by children. The lookout towers, forest playgrounds and other attractions that lie close to the stations make the Children’s Railway the ideal jumping-off point for a half-day trip for families.
Read more: Best Hungarian family-friendly spas to enjoy this summer
You may have read earlier that bears were spotted in Hungary. In the past, bears were seen in Acsa, Aszód and Galgamácsa. Now a bear was seen in Kismaros, Börzsönyliget. The case has been officially reported. The municipality asks residents not to visit the forest.
“Hi! At 0:39 a bear walked in front of our car at the Morgo bend! Everyone watch out!” reads a Facebook post from a witness. The official report was made to professional hunter István Jancsó. Jancsó can neither confirm nor deny that there are indeed bears in the area. However, he added that bears can travel long distances in a relatively short time.
The news has also been reported by the municipality of Szokolya, budapestkornyeke.hu reports.” Hence, the information seems to be true. At the moment we can only rely on the information of the three witnesses. There is no evidence. But we ask you to be careful and preferably don’t into the forest, or to the outskirts on foot!” reads the information of the municipality.
Read alsoHungary among the cheapest holiday spots!
Bears have been spotted in the area before. At that time, the municipality informed the Pilis Park Forest about the hornets. An investigation after the report confirmed that there was indeed a bear in the area. Pilis Park Forest Ltd., in consultation with the Directorate of the Danube-Ipoly National Park, installed wildlife cameras. In this way, they could track the bear’s movements, writes sokszinuvidek.hu.
The bear, which roams in Pest County, was last seen near Galgamácsa. The animal was spotted at the hazardous waste dump. “This picture of the brown bear was taken on the outskirts of Galgamácsa, in the immediate vicinity of the hazardous waste landfill. The bear regularly shows up, so increased caution is advised when hiking in the woods and fields,” writes Péter Kovács, president of the local hunting association.
Wild animals are a natural part of the forest. Bears are basically peaceful in nature. Do not approach the animal! Avoid eye contact, and do not make sudden movements. Move away slowly and sideways; this allows you to keep an eye on the bear and avoid tripping
If you are in an area where bears are likely to be seen, plan your trip in daylight. When camping, do not leave food with strong odours nearby. Always pack leftovers thoroughly.
Hungary’s food safety authority (NÉBIH) has eased bird flu-related restrictions in Bács-Kiskun, Békés and Csongrád-Csanád counties in the south and northeast of the country, after no infections had been detected since early June.
Inspection of the areas hit by the infection will continue, with slaughtering only possible under strict regulation, NÉBIH said on its website on Monday.
Restrictions will be lifted completely as of July 3 if there is no recurrence, NEBIH said.
Restrictions in other farms in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg and Hajdu-Bihar in the east will remain in place at least until early July, NÉBIH said.
Read alsoHungary’s food safety authority eases bird flu restrictions in three counties
The audience was brought to tears, and even the judges were melting during this choreographed performance. The Hungarian contestant Christine Elizabeth Bérczes and her dog Meredith were on the American talent show America’s Got Talent. Read more about their endeavours below!
Christine Elizabeth Bérczes and her Australian shepherd dog Meredith got four yeses in the talent competition with a dance performance. The performance has been watched by one and a half million people on Facebook alone, reports Telex.
The judges of the seventeenth America’s Got Talent were absolutely blown away by Bérczes and Meredith’s performance, as the stageside host Terry Crews and people from the audience wiped away tears at the end.
Crass judge Simon Cowell even said that he believed there might be dance competitions in the future where people would enter with their dogs. Another jury, Sofia Vergara said she wanted to see more from the Hungarians. Everyone except Cowell gave a standing ovation at the end of the Beauty and the Beast performance.
Bérczes breeds Australian shepherds in Hollókő and runs a dance school. In an interview with NOOL, she said that she heard about dog dancing from a friend, took an online course in 2016 and has been teaching it online ever since.
“When I was a child, our family always had a dog, and even then I spent a lot of time with them, trying to make them obedient,” recalls Christine Elisabeth Bérczes. “My husband got me my first Aussie shepherd named Jack. Then, he got me to apply for a dog show and we later began breeding them.”
Bérczes completed a dog trainer course in 2016 and was introduced to dog dancing by a friend. The sport that can be translated as dog dancing is a very powerful relationship builder between owners and their pets. Only a few people had heard of it one or two years ago, but nowadays it is becoming increasingly popular.
“There are few dog sports in my county, and we are the only ones to teach dog dancing. Now more and more people are taking their dogs to the dance from all over the country. This activity can be practiced individually or in groups, and is a great way for both dog and owner to learn and relax,” comments Bérczes.
A Royal Python called Pitonka has escaped from an apartment in the 7th district of Budapest. His owners have been looking for him ever since.
The concerned owners have put up posters in the 7th district, looking for their beloved pet.
“Our lovely, well-trained Royal Python escaped from us on 27 May,”
the posters say.
As rtl.hu reports, the owners claim that the one-metre-long animal is very gentle, not dangerous to humans or animals, has no fangs and tends to cower in fear rather than attack. Therefore, residents in the area are asked to call the phone number on the posters if they see the reptile.
The snake’s owner told rtl.hu on Tuesday that the animal has unfortunately still not been found. The shy animal is probably hiding in a dark, isolated place, but after a while it will need to crawl out into the sun and warm up. They hope that someone will spot the animal then and call them.
According to Index, the owner also said that they did not have to report the animal to the police because it is completely harmless. However, some residents in their apartment building were so frightened by the news that they were thinking of moving.
We are all familiar with this large, black bird. But why are they attacking people around Budapest? Is it to simply protect their young, or is there another meaning behind the attacks of these so-called “killer crows?” Read below to find out more!
Blikk’s article talks about a recent crow attack. A group of kindergarteners were attacked by a crow in the 15th district of Budapest. The children were playing outside when the avian swooped down from above. Reportedly, six children were harmed, along with one of their caretakers. They required immediate medical attention. Though none of them had to be taken to hospital, the situation is nonetheless alarming.
What is the deal with these ferocious birds?
Zoltán Orbán, spokesperson of the Hungarian Ornithological and Nature Conservation Society, commented the event. “The information available to us suggests that this is not a simple case of nestling protection. Humans likely had a hand in this. We raised these aggressive, bloodthirsty birds.”
Orbán also adds that the birds might attack out of sheer fun.
24.hu details the subject even further. From the beginning of April until the middle of June, crows are known to teach their young how to fly. This is around the time when most cases of crow attacks are reported. The protective parents of hatchlings react in an aggressive way when they sense danger.
If you find a seemingly helpless young bird in the bushes or on a tree branch, keep away!
Adult crows will begin to make a cacophony of screeches as if they were arguing. Seconds later, they are above our heads, trying to scare us away. Their intention is not to cause any serious physical injury to us humans. Rather, they want us as far from their youth as possible. However, when people are subject to such avian harassment, they will inevitably panic. Some trip over, and others will flee from the sidewalk.
The term “killer crow” was coined by the media last year. The Hitchcock-like term perfectly represents the nature of the usually tame animals. The situation is more complex, however. Hypothetically, if someone were to raise a crow hatchling, the bird would still not become obedient. Hundreds of years of domestication cannot be substituted by the abundance of affection. They will become highly aggressive, disturbing family members and causing a ruckus around the house. Inevitably, they will have to be released eventually.
Such birds will harbour no fear among humans, and will vehemently terrorise the public. Worse yet, these highly intelligent social birds can teach each other this unruly behaviour.
We must keep in mind both sides of the coin. We have to respect the boundaries of crows protecting their young. If we see a crow hatchling on the ground, it’s best we keep our distance. Their parents will know how to handle the situation. On the other hand, if these flying jokesters get on our nerves outside, we’ve got to show them who’s the boss.
It is good practice to not show any signs of fear, even if one decides to swoop down. Rather, a well-timed shout and a wave will let the avian know that you’re not scared. Eventually, they will learn, and get bored of their antics.
Shocking videos posted by eyewitnesses on Facebook show the slaughtered wild boars and piglets in Budapest’s 12th dictrict.
On Wednesday, several posts were published on Facebook regarding the massacre of a pack of wild boars and piglets near the Szent János Hospital on the Buda side of the capital.
One of the eyewitnesses stopped at the scene at around 8.30 AM. After having heard several gunshots, the passengers looked out of the window and were greeted by the following horrific sight.
The man who published the Facebook post also added that a young boy went into shock due to the horrible event and an ambulance had to be called.
According to the relevant passage of the current Act in force regarding hunting activities, “a hunter may fire a shot with a hunting rifle or a hunting bow only if he has identified the game beyond any doubt and does not endanger the life, physical safety or property security of others by firing the shot.” Since the incident occurred during the morning rush hour, in full view of the tram passengers, this can be considered a criminal offence.
Read also: Shocking! Almost 50 protected birds of prey killed with poison in Hungary
The Hungarian news portal 24.hu contacted the police regarding the incident. The Budapest Police Headquarters (BRFK) communications department replied that the case had been reported to the police, and
the Budapest Police Headquarters District II Police Station ordered an investigation for negligent endangerment in the course of occupation.
No suspects were questioned until their response.
What is certain, however, is that there are strict rules on who can shoot animals on land and how they can shoot. For this, a permission is needed form the police – revealed the chief communications officer of the National Hungarian Hunting Protection Association to Blikk. Only those who have the right to use a weapon are allowed to hunt at a place and time approved by the police. When releasing the shot, the hunter must be sure that no damage to property and no personal injury can occur.
A local animal welfare foundation said in an official statement that it was filing a complaint about the shooting of wild boars. The case is considered a vile, sneaky, cruel, inhuman murder, unprofessional and a public nuisance. The foundation added that they are convinced that in addition to animal torture, perverse hunters thirsting for murder could commit the crime of misuse of firearms, harassment and public danger as well.
A bear alert has been issued in the town of Acsa, 60 km from Budapest. The alert was issued by a local resident and confirmed by the municipality.
According to 444.hu, on Wednesday morning, a resident reported seeing a bear in the forest near Acsa, a town of 1,400 people. The municipality took immediate action, including warning residents via Facebook to “walk carefully and do not approach the forest!”
“We ask everyone who knows someone who is a forest ranger (mushroom picker, forester, etc.) to inform them urgently NOT to enter the forest or to leave it immediately!”,
the municipality warned everyone on their Facebook page.
One of the most brutal dogfighting rings was raided and shut down in Nagykőrös by the Hungarian police. Fifteen culprits, one hundred endangered animals, and 150 acts of crime. Read below for further information on how this brutal event ultimately came to an end.
Two years ago in December, the Hungarian police raided the premises of a dogfighting ring. For years, the criminals bred American Staffordshire terriers specifically for them to fight one another. The perpetrators would bet large amounts of money on which dog would win. These fights were conducted in front of an audience, and some even brought their children along. Apart from fighting, the organisers would also gain huge profits from selling the crowd young pups, which were the offspring of the aggressive fighting animals.
Investigators found many appliances which were used to train the dogs: measuring scales, running pads, and posts to which the animals were tied. Richárd Kapin, a member of the animal rescue shelter Szurkolók az Állatkínzás Ellen (Advocates Against Animal Abuse), gave his eyewitness accounts to Blikk.
“I can remember everything clearly, it’s burnt into my memory. There was dried blood on the walls and the floor. On either side of the ring, the dogs were separated according to their age. On one side were the younger, less experienced ones, while on the other, the more aggressive dogs were kept. The older dogs were kept in claustrophobic boxes. The staff couldn’t care less about the animals. Instead, they were cooking meals for themselves in their personal oven,” recounts Kapin.
Twelve dogs were rescued by the combined effort of the shelter and the police. Some found new forever homes, though tragically, two of the rescues passed away.
Kapin continued by saying that “Some of the dogs could hardly get accustomed to life away from their tragic past. They are unsociable since they were kept on tight leashes. One of the dogs has to wear a muzzle to this day so that it won’t bite people. The trauma caused by the constant fighting left deep wounds in the animal. However, he’s more friendly now among other dogs, and he doesn’t bark like crazy when children approach.” The dog described had an estimated value of €26,000, as he was one of the ring’s toughest fighters.
Policemen were able to capture around a hundred dogs in total, none of which were over the age of 5. This heavily implies that older dogs were put down or died during a match.
The fate of the criminals behind this horrid series of events was decided by their respective government offices. The large amount of paperwork surrounding the operation of the shady business was sent to the Pest County Prosecutor’s Office with a motion to prosecute, police.hu closes the report.
One of the consequences of climate change is that external parasites, such as ticks, are becoming more common because they are able to stay active in nature for longer. There are some dangerous diseases that ticks found in Hungary can spread – read on to find out which ones.
Origo and Pénzcentrum published the words of Dr Róbert Farkas, a professor in the Department of Parasitology and Zoology at the University of Veterinary Medicine. The topic was pathogens carried by ticks on domestic animals in Hungary and the diseases they spread.
A new study has revealed that several of the ticks collected from dogs in Hungary carry pathogens that are dangerous to animals and humans. They can be infected with pathogens that cause anaplasmosis, babesiosis or Lyme disease when they suck blood, and they can also transmit multiple pathogens to the animal in a short time.
A new study has revealed that
several of the ticks collected from dogs in Hungary carry pathogens that are dangerous to animals and humans alike.
They can be infected with pathogens that cause anaplasmosis, babesiosis or Lyme disease when they suck blood, and they can also transmit multiple pathogens to the animal in a short time.
As Origo reports, between 2019 and 2021, MSD Animal Health’s Protect Our Future Too initiative identified and tested 327 ticks collected from 211 dogs and 12 cats to determine the prevalence of different pathogens in these parasites.
“Molecular studies of the ability of ticks to transmit various pathogens are important for identifying potential pathogens for which these external parasites may be vectors,”
said Dr Róbert Farkas.
“This type of monitoring activity provides a lot of valuable information on the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases and helps to develop effective methods to prevent their spread in animal and human populations,”
he added.
“Based on the fact that the pathogen was found in a relatively high percentage of ticks, it is reasonable to think that the risk of anaplasmosis in animals and humans is increasing in Hungary,”
the professor said.
Dr Róbert Farkas encourages owners to bring their pets for a veterinary check-up and to seek advice for long-lasting and effective parasite control. Fortunately, there are a number of solutions to protect our beloved pets, such as chewable tablets, drip solutions or collars.
On your next outing, keep calm if you encounter a mammoth wasp. These stinging insects recently started to appear in Hungary. They might look menacing, but they have more bark than bite. Read our article to find out important information about these wasps.
The Hungarian Ornithological and Nature Conservation Society (MME) recently drew attention to these insects through this notice. The mammoth wasp is the largest of Vespidae on the continent of Europe. Though their size might suggest otherwise, we have no reason to be afraid of them. Mammoth wasp stings are not dangerous to humans or our pets. They maintain the population of May bugs.
Since these insects are harmless to humans, extermination is unnecessary. Mammoth wasps in Hungary are species protected by law: their theoretical value is around 130 euros, reports Origo.
The notice by (MME) also calls our attention to an important fact. In recent years, the declining population of mammoth wasps is due to increased ignorance. For example, exterminators do not practice enough caution during their work, leading to the death of the endangered species.
We should be careful around the house as well. It is easy to distinguish between common wasps and hornets, species that live in colonies, and the solitary mammoth wasp. The first obvious indicator would be their size.
Mammoth wasps grow to about 4.5 to 5 cm in length, while common wasps and hornets only reach 1.5 cm and 2.5 cm respectively. Female mammoth wasps have a yellow head, while males have a blueish black hue.
Some might be afraid of a sting, understandably, but mammoth wasps are much more placid compared to the highly aggressive nature of common wasps. It is highly unlikely that a mammoth wasp would sting you since these insects do not use their stingers to induce pain. These animals are parasitoids: they feed on the larvae of beetles. To paralyse their prey (such as the larvae of May bugs), they use their specialised stingers. Next, they lay their eggs inside, that way once the young wasps hatch, they immediately have access to nourishment.
We may find mammoth wasps in places where such beetles live: in the soil, in our compost or in dead tree stumps.
Knowing this, we can realise that these insects serve a very important role in local ecosystems.
Hungarian researchers detected and isolated the so-called Lloviu virus in bats in Hungary. In laboratory conditions, the virus can infect humans. But in nature, all viruses behave differently. There are a lot of questions, but nobody should be afraid of a pandemic. The discovery is nothing more than a scientific achievement, experts highlighted. Furthermore, we know that it cannot cause infections similar to the Ebola or Marburg viruses.
According to 24.hu, experts are constantly searching for new viruses that might cause similar pandemics as the coronavirus did in the past two years. After seven years of hard work, Hungarian researchers identified a filovirus called Lloviu. That is a distant European relative of the Ebola. However, researchers found the virus in bats living far away from any human settlements in Hungary.
Nobody should be concerned because the virus endangers only bats at the moment.
Researchers are now examining whether it can cause human illnesses. 24.hu asked virologist Gábor Kemenesi, the senior researcher of the János Szentágothai Research Centre at the University of Pécs. He is also the leader of the Lloviu team.
Mr Kemenesi said that the virus was previously identified in Italy and is probably present in every country where bent-wing bats live. However, according to their current knowledge, nobody should be concerned about a possible pandemic. The researchers isolated the new virus and are now examining whether it can infect human cells. But even if it does, that does not mean it could infect a human body.
They are working together with American colleagues and found that the new virus cannot cause illnesses like the Ebola or Marburg.
They published their findings in Plos Pathogens. The virus is now on the long list of pathogens that need to be examined to avoid the outbreak of a possible pandemic.
Humanity learned about filoviruses in 1967 when German researchers worked with grivets caught in Africa to develop vaccines in Marburg. However, a deadly virus infected 31 of them, causing the death of seven researchers. The new virus was named after the city. Meanwhile, the Ebola virus was identified in 1976, near the Ebola River, in Congo. Its mortality rate is above 50%, and it continues to generate new waves of the pandemic. Thanks to a new medicine, in 2019, the mortality rate could be reduced to below six pc.
Filoviruses are present in a variety of animals, from fish to bats. But only these two types can infect humans, the virologist said.
The importance of the discovery is that Hungarian researchers have isolated a filovirus for the first time since 1967 with scientific rigour. Mr Kemensi says that we must pay close attention to filoviruses and learn about them. That is because some types might be able to mutate into deadly versions, as the coronavirus did. Furthermore, it can help us study the Ebola and Marburg viruses.
The new filovirus was detected in bats that are extremely afraid of humans.
However, Mr Kemensi highlighted that we have a chance against such “new” viruses only if we learn about them as much as possible.
He added that analysing viruses in bats is extremely important. The flying mammals can be considered virus banks, and many of the virus versions in their bodies have zoonotic abilities. Mr Kemenesi added that the expansion of human settlements is destroying the buffer zone between wild animals (and their viruses) and people. If we cannot baulk that trend, diseases transmitted from animals to humans will increase, possibly resulting in global pandemics.
Fish stocks in the lakes of Budapest City Park and Margaret Island were destroyed by the poisoning.
On Wednesday, dog walkers drew attention to the significant amount of dead fish in the lake of Budapest’s City Park. People in the area were trying to warn each other not to let dogs or children touch the water or the fish.
The fish poisoning affects the fish stocks of two lakes in Budapest.
According to Euronews, the poisoned fish were rescued from the Japanese garden on Margaret Island to the lake of Budapest’s City Park a few days ago.
This was due to the cleaning of the Margaret Island lakes that has been going on these past weeks. One of the biggest challenges for the gardeners was saving the fish. Accordingly, their collection lasted for three days, during which they took out the goldfish from the water one by one. As the lake system in the Japanese Garden on Margaret Island had to be drained during the clean-up, the fish were relocated to the lake of Budapest’s City Park.
On Wednesday, however, a chemical of unknown origin and composition was released into the water of the lake, killing all the fish, and the stock temporarily placed there from Margaret Island was also destroyed. Some turtles survived the poisoning, but it is not yet known whether they will make it.
According to the official statement, the dead fish were removed immediately from the territory, and the authorised specialist company took care of their removal and professional destruction.
In a Facebook post, City Park called on people to keep dogs away from the lake. They also added that
there has never been such severe poisoning in the history of City Park.
The operator of the lake, Városliget Plc., started to assess the damage, with the assistance of the competent authorities. After taking samples, laboratory tests were started in order to find out the origin of the poisoning.
As Hungarian news portal Infostart reports, the results will be available in 4-5 days. In addition, the necessary plans and measures for the rehabilitation of the lake will also be developed soon. The competent authorities will do their utmost to restore the lake to its original condition as soon as possible, for which the necessary resources are available.
The lone lynx that is roaming the woods in Börzsöny has made another appearance. He seemed strong and energetic despite his advanced age. He knows well that he has no reason to fear anything, not even that one single wolf that also calls the Northern Hungarian mountain rage his home.
Even though the lynx falls into the medium-sized cat category, it still has an impressive sturdy look. If you happen to bump into each other during your mountain hikes, you will probably think twice before you go “here, kitty kitty”. Europe’s largest cat does not look particularly cuddly with its 35-40 kg (77-88 pounds) heavy built and giant paws armed with long, sharp claws. On top of that, we are blessed with the Carpathian lynx, the largest member of the Eurasian lynx species which is native to European, Central Asian and Siberian forests.
While its conservation status is classified as “least concern”, in post-Trianon Hungary, the lynx population had severely reduced due to overhunting. However, back in 2012, WWF reported that, after nearly a century, the lynx had returned to the Hungarian slopes thanks to a ban on hunting the wild cats in neighbouring Slovakia. The regulation made the predators more adventurous and encouraged them to expand their hunting area to Hungary.
The lynx leads a solitary lifestyle sneaking and sulking in the dark and avoiding all sorts of human interaction (no petting, please!) therefore, spotting it out and about in the wild in broad daylight is a rare opportunity even for wildlife exports. The lynx unwittingly walked in front of their cameras by sheer luck. This year, it is the second time that the Börzsöny Foundation has shared footage of the lynx, which was taken by their automatic cameras. The first footage showed the lynx roaming its territory on a frosty February night while the most recent one was recorded during daytime at the end of March.
24.hu contacted Balázs Ferenci, a colleague of the Börzsöny Foundation, to learn more about this gracious predator.
Those who follow the local news about our lynxes (everyone needs a bit of a break from politics from time to time) might know that there are a handful of lynxes living in the pristine, boreal forests of the Northern Hungarian mountain range. Unfortunately, though, most of them lead a solitary life, there are no records of recently born kittens. There is currently only one lynx living in the protected, nearly 30-hectare Börzsöny region, the same that was recently recorded by the cameras of the Börszöny Foundation. Since he was spotted on the night of New Year’s Eve and then again on the 23rd of March, the wildlife experts named him Szilveszter Botond according to the Hungarian name day calendar.
The unique pattern of his coat gives it away that it’s the same animal that was also seen on a 2017 footage which means he must be around 17-18 years old. Despite his advanced age, he still looks strong and energetic.
– said Balázs Ferenci to 24.hu. And then he added: “sadly, though, he is still single”.
Botond first showed up towards the end of 2005, when he was still a young fellow, around 1-2 years old. The expert cannot precisely determine his age, as the coat pattern changes as the animal grows older. Taking all that into consideration, the current age of the lynx must be estimated to be about 17-18 years old. The lifespan of the lynx living in the wild is approximately 15-17 years which means we are dealing with a true veteran. Luckily, he seems to be in excellent shape and condition, except for his slightly stiffer walk which can be due to the difficult terrain as well. Other than that he can beat any youngsters when it comes to hunting for deer. Botond would certainly make a great catch for any female lynx.
Read also: Number of wolves significantly grew in Hungary – Will they attack people?
Ever since his first appearance, Botond seems to be the only big cat inhabitant of the Börzsöny mountain which is proven by his distinctive coat shown in the footages as well as his unique footprint that helps experts to identify the animal. Lynxes are solitary animals, except during the mating season. Male and female lynxes only appear together in this period, and as a romantic gesture, they may even share each others’ territory temporarily.
Unfortunately, Botond does not seem to be lucky in love as he has never been spotted with a lady friend. Upon examining urine and feces samples, the wildlife experts concluded though that once upon a time two lynxes must have ruled the Börzsöny mountains. However, the other lynx was also a male and it must have been a short and unfriendly visit as he was never seen again in the area. Botond still roams the snowy slopes and dense forests without his other half.
He regularly crosses one of our cameras, but his movement is unpredictable, therefore, we never know when he shows up next.
– added Balázs Ferenci to 24.hu.
Botond knows the Börzsöny mountain like the back of his paw. He can cross back and forth the entire 10-kilometre wide rocky region overnight with its steep valleys and towering mountain ridges. He makes his way through the challenging mountain routes like an experienced alpinist.
Depending on the region and availability of prey, the Eurasian lynx mostly hunts birds and smaller mammals, but occasionally roe deers as well. Small mammals such as hares and rabbits and, in rare instances, smaller predators such as foxes are also on the lynx’s menu. Even though they may look intimidating, lynxes actually fear humans. On the other hand, wolves would not want to cross their paths.
A potential encounter between the two predators would be especially detrimental to the wolf since she does not belong to a protective pack. The single female also shares the romantic struggles Botond, the lynx faces. She has been roaming the forest by herself for fours years now, occasionally passing the cameras of the Börszöny Foundation. Her snowy footprints are telltale signs of her presence and shows her daily routes and errands. At times, wildlife experts also find some leftovers of her preys that she has no one to share with.
Even though wolves are nocturnal animals, an ambitious nature photographer has managed to snap some photos of her in daylight.
Expert hopes that both Botond’s and the unknown female wolf’s love life will soon turn for the better so they can produce offsprings and thus expand the population. Other than the lack of available partners, all circumstances would be ideal for that since the Börzsöny mountain makes a perfect habitat for these two majestic predators.
Read also Grey wolves killed in Hungary without punishment? – 18+
Sightings of apex predators such as bears and wolves are becoming more common in the country. Experts say that although they can cause some problems, it is better to learn to live with them.
According to haszon.hu, the number of large predator sightings in Hungary has increased significantly in recent years. In particular, after many decades, wolves, lynx, and bears have taken over the North Hungarian Mountains, while in other areas, golden jackals are increasingly common.
One of the reasons for their return could be that there was less food in their former territories – maybe because of an increase in their number –, so they looked for new territories, as magyarmezőgazdaság.hu wrote.
As the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Szeged reported on its website, according to Dr László Patkó, the WWF Large Carnivores Programme Manager, the presence of large carnivores in an area is an important indicator for species-focused studies.
If they are present somewhere, as he says, the trophic levels below them are fine in that area. However, if they migrate in search of new territory, then the appropriate food chain develops there, in the new place. National parks, wildlife managers, and NAIK (National Centre for Agricultural Research and Innovation) staff can carry out valid studies.
Samples of hair, faeces, urine or saliva are collected and then subjected to DNA analysis in a laboratory.
Among other things, research has shown that stray dogs are often responsible for economic damage attributed to apex predators, rather than the large carnivores themselves. In addition, as previously described, it seems that where predators appear, the appropriate food chain is established.
However, magyarmezőgazdaság.hu reports cases where it is not dogs that are to blame for the deaths of livestock but returning predators. Csaba Szabó, a sheep breeder in Fülöpháza, Bács-Kiskun County, reported such a story. There was a year when 23 of his lambs were lost due to golden jackals.
“So far, the sheep have had a good time out in the pasture, we had time to get them later, we didn’t stress the animals. Now, we have to compete with the golden jackal, and a lamb should not be allowed out of the sheepfold until it is 3-4 months old. In our experience, the jackal is not at all fearful, despite what is said. It watches where you are, chasing the ewe sheep with the lamb hanging out of it. In our area, there are no wild boar piglets, kids or bunnies, everything is hunted by this proliferated predator,”
says the farmer.
The Hungarian car safari is going to be a unique attraction not only in the country but also in Central Europe.
On May 20, 2020, after the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic, the first and still the only car safari park in Hungary was opened in Szada, just a few kilometres from the Hungarian capital, Budapest. However, the operation of the park was soon overshadowed by nationally known scandals, making the park infamous. Two elephants died on the same night, then the animals were buried without permission, and their tusks were cut off. The news dominated the national press, so even though the park created by the Richter family started out successfully, it had to face serious difficulties already on the first summer of its operation, writes 24.hu.
Although the family and the operators of the park carried out continuous improvements, the municipality of Szada rejected the application for zoo qualification. In 2021, the safari park could not be opened. At that point, it became obvious that the park cannot be kept at this location, but the owners did not want to hear about giving up their dreams, and closing down was not an option: they tried to find a new location, which was not that far from Szada: namely, Nagykőrös, another small town in Pest county, less than a 1-hour drive from Budapest.
The new area in Nagykőrös is much larger than the previous area, more than thirty hectares. The wild animals of the Hungarian National Circus will move here, so they will be able to spend their ‘retirement years’ in this safari park, leaving the previous circus work behind following international animal protection regulations. One of the key tourist attractions of 2022 will be open from the 14th of April.
However, car safaris are not everything. In addition, the owners have also created an amusement park with various programs awaiting visitors throughout the day. From the 30-metre Ferris wheel, the Safari Eye, visitors will be able to admire the view of the exotic Safari in front of them, while getting out of the car at the petting zoo will allow them to meet smaller animals, such as kangaroos or llamas, says kulturaonline.hu.
According to the owners, the primary consideration in selecting the venue was to provide an ideal environment for all wildlife where they could live their daily lives in a close-to-nature, spacious area while maintaining contact with the public.
A Hungarian farmer may sell his products abroad as well.
Dezső Szomor established his farm by first buying animals off the slaughterhouse right before they would have been killed. In 1993, he won the lease tenders for the areas of the Kiskunság National Park, where he has been working ever since. – writes hellovidek.hu. Over the past 23 years, Szomor only kept Hungarian animal breeds on the land, such as the grey cattle.
The farmer may have 2,500 – 3,000 grey cattle on the land. Ironically, however, the animals do not have a profitable value alive, so the farmer sells them as meat products.
“It took a decade and a half for the cattle breeding project, which started as a hobby, to finally become a real business. Until then, the breeding – the yearly selling of 20-30 animals from the bull farm jointly established with the Kiskunság National Park – only covered the expenses” – Agrárszektor quoted Dezső Szomor.
He has high hopes for his business. He wants to cross the breeds so that they would produce higher quality meat, thus making the meat he sells popular in other European countries as well. Furthermore, in order to reconstruct the wetland, Szomor and his business partner made a 250 hectares fish lake.
But his primary focus remains on grey cattle breeding.
The ultimate goal of the Kiskunság National Park and the Hortobágy National Park is to protect the genetic resources of animals. Aside from the Alföld National Parks, the Hungarian grey cattle are kept in demonstration sites set up for tourism and on pastures in nature reserves. There the animals are kept in a pure-blood form, without crossing them with other breeds. Currently, there are about 4,400 registered cows and 320 registered bulls in the country.
The grey cattle is a breed that currently has been developing dynamically. The grey cattle was the first domestic animal breed that became officially protected in Hungary. The breeding is coordinated by the Hungarian Gray Cattle Breeders Association (a Magyar Szürke Szarvasmarha Tenyésztők Egyesülete). The breed is also useful for utilising pastures that are in bad conditions.
