EcoPark

We are inviting you to visit a valuable part of the natural environment surrounding the nuclear power plant. The sights of the EcoPark where animals indigenous to Hungary are shown can prove the possibilities of living peacefully next to each other.

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The Ecology Park

The zoo of the Ecology Park by the north entrance has brought smiles to the workers’ faces for more than a year. Passers-by admire the natural beings and anything comes to their minds but atomic energy. The main purpose of the idea was to prove that the operation of the MVM Paks Nuclear Power Plant has no negative environmental impact. Milkmen Földesi Products Ltd. won the tender for the establishment of the Ecology Park from among six applicants. The executive manager of the company said they were considering the establishment of their own Ecology Park near their premises when the tender call was issued, so the similar desires of his company and the Power Plant fortunately met. 

I asked Zoltán Ambrus to recall how it all started.
“In the beginning we were getting into the hot weather; however, these native species are used to being in the open. The buildings and supporting facilities seemed to be appropriate, though Hungarian Grey Cattle never go into stables, even in the hottest summer or in a blizzard. Right now it’s about 30 Celsius but the Greys are lying on the hilltop, where it’s obviously hotter. High wind is the only thing which can disturb them. Then they search for wind shelters. 

What’s the quality of the fields?
It’s very low. The soil is rather sandy, thus dandelion and wild tobacco are abundant, and there are few edible grass species. The animals are grazing out of habit. They really feed on the forage they get. When it’s so hot, you have to make sure you provide forage with higher moisture content. 

How many heads do you have to take care of?
We have 47 Hungarian Grey Cattle. There are 50 racka ewes (an ancient Hungarian breed of sheep) and 53 lambs were born. We have 35 fallow deer and births are currently underway. It’s difficult to count them, because we don’t even touch the grass of their territory in order not to disturb them. We could count already ten calves and 10 to 15 more are expected. We started the Park with 22 mangalica breed pigs and there is a huge birth-rate. Seven piglets is the average per mother, so the pig population comprises 100 head already. There are a few wild hogs, but their breeding is rather low. Finally, I should mention our two donkeys, Gratis and Bonus. 

Have there been any illnesses or deaths?
They have been negligible, since our animals are continuously monitored by a vet. A newborn lamb fell prey to a falcon. The problem is the communal refuse, which is continuously brought into the territory by the wind. Deer are curious beings and they consume the waste. During the rut we lost two bucks because the waste blocked their intestines. 

What about visitors?
Numerous hikers and bicyclists cut across the Ecology Park. Some nursery school groups have already visited us and we were able to welcome the Environment Committee of the Hungarian Parliament. Recently we got an inquiry from the Russian ministry of economy about breeding mangalicas. 

I wish you even more success for your operations.

Thank you for the interview! 

Miklós Beregnyei