A total of 99 mammal species have been identified, adding 12 new species to the previous survey from 1995. Several species, such as the wolf or the European otter, have returned. Others, like the Valais shrew or the cryptic myotis, have only recently been discovered in this area. While the spread of some species, like the lynx, wolf, or beaver has increased, others, particularly small and medium-sized species, are in danger. For example, more than half of the various species of bats are on the Red List of threatened species. Their habitats and food sources – mainly insects – are disappearing. Light pollution and environmental toxins are on the rise.

This extensive collection of data, consisting of over one million observations, was compiled in collaboration with mammal experts from private and public institutions as well as thousands of volunteers. The comprehensive database provides the most accurate picture to date of mammal populations in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

The new atlas is available in German, French, and Italian from Haupt Verlag and is published by the Swiss Society for Wildlife Biology (SGW) at the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT). Roland Graf, publisher and board member of SGW, is leading the Wildlife Management Research Group (WILMA) at the Institute of Natural Resource Sciences at the ZHAW in Wädenswil.

Swiss Radio and Television SRF as well as a number of daily newspapers have reported on the new atlas (in German only):

• Report by SRF on the daily news show “Tagesschau” from 23 March
• Report by SRF on the radio broadcast “Echo der Zeit” from 23 March
• Article in the NZZ (PDF 113,3 KB) from 24 March
• Article in the Tagesanzeiger (PDF 945,6 KB) from 24 March

For a review copy, please contact Haupt Verlag at the following e-mail address: Martina.Raeber@haupt.ch.