Wildlife search & fawn rescue:
Government funding available for drone purchases!
Good news for all fawn rescuers who rely on the support of thermal imaging drones:
As part of the “Federal Funding Program for Fawn Rescue”, the german Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Community (BMLEH) will again support the purchase of such technology this year with a total volume of 2.1 million euros.
In recent years, the use of drones equipped with thermal imaging technology has become established in the search for fawns, as this allows for time-saving and effective searching of grassland and arable forage areas, particularly for fawns, and thus saves them from being killed by mowing machines. According to the Ministry, the use of thermal drones currently represents “the best alternative to previous methods (deterrent measures, on-site inspections).”
Subsidies for the purchase of drones with thermal imaging cameras for fawn rescue amount to up to €3,000 per drone and participant. Expressions of interest can be submitted to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management (BMLEH) until June 30, 2026; all information can be found here.
Among others, registered district hunting associations, hunting associations at the district level, or other registered associations at the regional or local level are eligible for funding. Their tasks (according to their statutes!) include the maintenance and promotion of hunting or the rescue of wild animals, primarily fawns, during meadow mowing (so-called fawn rescue associations).
