Büsum Wildlife Research Institute Faces Uncertain Future Amid Reorganization

The Büsum branch of the Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW) is facing an uncertain future, according to Klaus Osterrieder, president of the Stiftung Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover (TiHo), which oversees the institute.

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We are reorganizing this and will continue research, teaching, and services.

Following the departure of former institute director Ursula Siebert to Freie Universität Berlin, projects need to be reorganized and staff reassigned. Osterrieder stated that research, teaching, and services will continue, and the institute will remain an integral part of the TiHo. However, he could not yet confirm whether the Büsum site would be closed.

"We have had a presence in Büsum for 15 years. We have rental properties there, and one of the rental properties has indeed been terminated as of March 31," Osterrieder explained. The Büsum location employs nearly 50 people who focus on seals, porpoises, dolphins, otters, and various whale species. The institute also handles pathological examinations of stranded or euthanized marine mammals.

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We have had a presence in Büsum for 15 years. We have rental properties there, and one of the rental properties has indeed been terminated as of March 31.

The institute played a role in the case of the humpback whale Timmy, which repeatedly stranded off the German Baltic coast. Osterrieder emphasized that solutions would be developed collaboratively with employees to ensure the continuation of research and services in this field.

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We have to look at projects in order, work out solutions together with the employees, and then we will allow the necessary creativity to continue in this research area and this service area.