Supporting endangered raptors by promoting their endangered prey
Conservation focus:
European ground squirrel, Saker falcon, Eastern imperial eagle
Scientific name:
Spermophilus citellus, Falco cherrug, Aquila heliaca
Scientific classification:
Mammals, Sciuridae; Birds, Falconidae
IUCN status:
EDGE status:
EN (endangered); VU
Score 0.5, rank 647/662 EDGE birds; Score 0.8, rank 486/585 EDGE mammals
Threatened evolutionary history:
Up to 1.9 million years
Conservation priority by EDGE rank / ecosystem
Why it matters
Human-wildlife conflicts are a common issue in conservation. This cleverly designed project addresses two such conflicts at once, caused exclusively by globally endangered species. In north-western Hungary, raptors hunting at airports overpopulated with European ground squirrels pose an air safety risk. But in the Zámoly Basin in central Hungary, these ground squirrels are rare, so raptors hunt domestic pigeons and European hares instead, causing conflicts with breeders and hunters. Through relocating European ground squirrels from over- to underpopulated areas in restored steppe habitat, this study eases both human-wildlife conflicts, while re-establishing the natural food chain linking Saker falcons, Eastern imperial eagles and European ground squirrels.
Project fast facts
Focal species' population trend
Decreasing (falcon, eagle, squirrel)
Local conservation attention
Moderate
Range / Project area
Ecological role
The European ground squirrel serves as a key prey species for predators such as the Saker falcon and the Eastern imperial eagle. Its burrowing activity enhances soil aeration and structure, supporting habitat health. The raptors regulate prey populations and help sustain the ecological balance of open grasslands, making all three species integral to Hungary’s steppe ecosystems.
Threats
The Saker Falcon and the Eastern Imperial Eagle are globally threatened steppe raptors, listed on the IUCN Red List as Endangered (C1) and Vulnerable (VU). Their main prey across the Eurasian steppes were small burrowing mammals, still 70–80% of their diet in Central Asia but only 20–30% in Europe, which results in lower breeding success. In the Carpathian Basin, their former key prey, the European ground squirrel, declined due to the loss of grazed grasslands, which have often been replaced by cropland. Now it represents less than 1% of their diet and is replaced by domestic pigeons and young European hares, causing conflicts with breeders and hunters. As a result, illegal falcon persecution persists, despite legal and educational efforts.
Grant
First awarded:
EUR 8,301
1 December 2025
Score 0.5, rank 647/662 EDGE birds; Score 0.8, rank 486/585 EDGE mammals
Programme owner
Pro Vertés Public Foundation, Csákvár, Hungary
Programme contact
Miklós Váczi
Project location
Europe
Zámoly, 8081 Hungary
Addressing the need: Project goals
Translocate European ground squirrels from an area of human–wildlife conflict to their former habitat (managed by the Pro Vértes Public Foundation), where the two focal bird species also occur. This shall both mitigate the air safety risk created by raptors hunting a locally excessive ground squirrel population, and rebuild a healthy population of a key prey species of raptors to restored steppe habitat.
See summary above. This activity will restore an important stepping stone linking two currently isolated remnant populations of the globally endangered European ground squirrel.
Conservation actions
The populations of the target bird species are expected to stabilize within the habitat, with breeding success improving as a result of the increased availability of natural prey. At the same time, conflicts with local communities will decrease, as the two raptor species return to feeding on their natural prey base. Furthermore, due to the planned reintroduction within the project, a previously extinct European ground squirrel population — once an important regional stepping stone between two isolated colonies — will be re-established.
A large falcon capable of very fast flight. It breeds from Central Europe to Manchuria. National bird of Hungary, the United Arab Emirates, and Mongolia.
This large eagle breeds in southeastern Europe, West and Central Asia, preferring areas with tall woods bordering on open plains.
Eastern imperial eagles are iconic raptors of the Pannonian plains and other steppe habitats.
A large falcon capable of very fast flight. It breeds from Central Europe to Manchuria. National bird of Hungary, the United Arab Emirates, and Mongolia.