Any one passing through the Upper Syrtal region near Mensdorf in the past few days would be forgiven for doing a double take as they pass by the nature resrve there. New to the area since a few days now, are European water buffalos at the "Schlammwiss-Brill" nature reserve in the large Natura 2000 zone.

The water buffalo have been introduced in order to guarantee natural, extensive management of a wet pasture of around 25 hectares. As the name suggests, the water buffalo are excellently adapted to humid habitats.

The extensive grazing with these spectacular animals preserves the open country character of the area - ideal for the white stork, a target species of the area - but with a wealth of structural diversity. Due to the feeding behaviour of the water buffalo, the dense, matted vegetation of the area is pushed back somewhat, the light permeability is improved, which leads to an increased diversity of plants. In addition, a large number of wild animals benefit directly or indirectly from the presence of the water buffalo. At temperatures above 25 degrees, the water buffalo love to wallow in the mud. The resulting "water holes" then serve as ideal spawning grounds for amphibians in the following years. In addition, grazing increases the diversity of insects many times over, which benefits ground breeders such as the lapwing and the water rail, as well as many other birds and also bats.

This conservation project is the fruit of a collaboration between the nature administration and the water management office, the "Hëllef fir d'Natur" foundation, the communities of Betzdorf, Niederanven and Schuttrange, and organic farmer Alex Mehlen from Manternach, the owner of the water buffalo herd.