Baby dormice born in Limburg

Six baby garden dormice, a breed that is almost extinct in the Netherlands, have been born in south Limburg, reports Thursday’s Telegraaf.

A spokesman for the local conservationist group told the paper the news is ‘hopeful but we can’t hang out the flag yet’. In September last year conservationists reported that only nine garden dormice still lived in the local woodlands.

The Eliomys quercinus (”korenwolf” in Dutch) is easily recognisable by its characteristic white tummy and black robber’s mask. They hibernate for seven months of the year.

Click here to see a picture of the garden dormouse

Source: DutchNews.nl, 14 August 2008