Mowing Sheep Enrich Flora and Fauna of Vienna's Danube Island

Lifestyle & TravelMore+ ♦ Published: August 21, 2023; 15:30 ♦ (Vindobona)

As part of a pioneering EU project, the Danube Island's new and gentle inhabitants have proven to be surprisingly efficient lawnmowers. Around 70 sheep find a temporary home on the Danube Island during the summer months. As natural lawnmowers, they help to revitalize the island's flora and fauna and promote biodiversity.

Around 70 sheep live graze meadows on the Danube Island during the summer as part of an EU project, making a valuable contribution to the biodiversity of fauna and flora. / Picture: © Magistrat der Stadt Wien / PID / Christian Fürthner

Since May of this year, the mowing sheep have taken over the northern part of the island, where they have grazed an impressive 5.8 hectares - the equivalent of about 450 beach volleyball courts. The sheep, which originally began in a flock of 30, has now grown to an impressive 70.

In addition to the obvious task of cutting meadows, the mowing sheep fulfill an even more…