They Came to Stay Our Alien Animal Neighbours

The only colony of wild rheas in Europe lives in a small area in northern Germany. The ancestors of the ostrich-like birds escaped from an enclosure there around 20 years ago. Since then, they have been reproducing undisturbed.

The collared parakeets are increasingly reproducing in Central Europe. The green parrots are conspicuous for their loud squawking and large flocks. They pollute roads with droppings and are suspected of damaging trees.

The South American coypus have been colonising Europe's lakes, rivers, and canals for decades. There, they build burrows in the embankments, nibble on the vegetation, and thus jeopardise dams.