New life in Hahnbach: Water buffalo calves inspire the community

New life in Hahnbach: Water buffalo calves inspire the community

In Hahnbach, the arrival of the water buffalo calves causes excitement and curiosity. The news that the little calves had seen the light of day quickly spread throughout the community. Many people, not just from Hahnbach, made their way to Vilseckerstraße to catch a glimpse of the new residents. But the calves often hide in the meadows, making the search for them an exciting adventure.

Johannes Weiß, a carpenter from Kümmersbuch, has taken responsibility for looking after these gentle giants. He visits the water buffaloes twice a day to make sure they are well. His partner, Katharina Mägerl, gave the animals loving names, including Lisa and Toni. These names reflect the affection the two feel for the animals, who clearly feel at home in the nature around Hahnbach.

Media interest and exciting discoveries

Interest in the water buffalo is growing, and even Bavarian Radio has gotten involved. The beauty of the region along the Vils will be documented for a planned television series that will be broadcast in 2025. Biologist Markus Schmidbauer has already conducted several interviews with Johannes Weiß to find out more about the calves and their birth. These births often happen unexpectedly, as Weiss reports: “Suddenly a calf was there in the morning.” The calves are not only cute, but also very active and quickly explore their surroundings.

The excitement surrounding the calves is not without its challenges. Johannes Weiß has found that mothers are very protective, especially when they have their first calf. This makes it difficult to approach the animals. Although calves should be ear tagged within a week of birth, the veterinarian in charge advises to be careful and not cause stress to the animals.

The water buffalo play an important role in maintaining the floodplain landscape. They enjoy eating anything that comes their way, helping to clear the area of ​​dense undergrowth. Their dung helps improve the flora and fauna, which is beneficial for the entire ecosystem. The hollows that the heavy animals leave behind provide a habitat for many insects and amphibians and serve as mud baths for the buffaloes to protect themselves from the heat and annoying insects.

Water buffaloes are known as working animals in many parts of the world, but in Hahnbach they enjoy a quiet life. Their presence has also piqued the interest of passers-by, who find the animals calming. “This is really cool yoga,” remarked one visitor while watching the animals. A sturdy fence around the extensive area ensures that the animals can live in peace while people watch from outside and enjoy the calves.

Although there are some critical voices that question the introduction of water buffalo to the Upper Palatinate, historical finds prove that these animals once grazed in the region. Their calm nature seems to fit well with the coziness of the people of Upper Palatinate, and many people are enthusiastic about the idea of ​​having these “primal creatures” in their area.