Berlin's Bellevue Palace relocates frogs and newts before €162M renovation
While German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier's move out of the dilapidated Bellevue Palace faces delays, the first frogs from the palace pond have already been relocated.
According to Der Spiegel, the official residence of the German president is set for an eight-year renovation, forcing Steinmeier to temporarily move into a newly constructed building near Berlin's central station. Starting in August, part of the Bellevue grounds—currently occupied by a pond—will be needed to set up the construction site. The pond is to be drained, but before that can happen, the protected amphibians living there must be carefully relocated in compliance with species conservation laws. For months, a specialized engineering firm has been organizing the legally mandated resettlement of frogs and newts to a larger replacement pond located behind the palace.
Ideally, amphibian relocations take place during the toad migration season, which began in March and is still ongoing. By mid-April, 118 newts and 39 frogs had already moved into their new home in the large palace pond.
The Presidential Office has declined to disclose the specific cost of relocating the frogs and newts, instead referring to the overall budget line for "external facilities and infrastructure," which totals €162 million. This sum covers pathways, security systems, geothermal installations, construction logistics, and the protected park grounds. Steinmeier's own move had been postponed after the temporary residence near the central station was delayed by severe winter frost, preventing its timely completion.
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