15^th European Wildlife Disease Conference

The post-conference tour will take you to the national park “Vorpommersche Boddenlandschaft”, the largest of Germany’s three national parks on the Baltic coast. The magnificent landscape is famous for its salty lagoons (called “Bodden”) and the mosaic of dunes, saltwater ponds, swamps, and sand hooks. The park is rich in nature and home to diverse wildlife, from small creatures like the blue moor frog to larger animal species like the red deer. It is also well-known for its wide range of native and migratory birds. In autumn, it sets the stage for an impressive natural spectacle as dusk falls: thousands of cranes fill the sky with vibration and the deep sound of their calls. At the same time, red deer are showing up in the nearby meadows, allowing you to observe a unique spectacle - it is rutting season.

After a hearty lunch at a former hunting lodge directly at the entrance to the national park, the guided tour starts at the exhibition area “Sundische Wiese”. From here, you will explore the national park between Sundische Wiese, Hohe Düne, and Pramort by bike (7.5 km) and on foot (1.5 km). From the viewing platform at Hohe Düne you will have a splendid view of the Baltic Sea whereas the platform at Pramort offers a stunning view of the reed belts. Here, at dusk, you can watch the red deer and wild boar emerge, and witness the cranes flying in to rest for the night.