Strange U-turn – Backing Down After Allegations of Cheating on “Ferdl”

The story of the field hamster “Ferdl” is enriched with an – extremely curious – chapter. “Krone” readers know the history: the opponents of the controversial Traisental highway S 34 in the west of St. Pölten had recently discovered the rodent and documented it with photos and videos. The find was a blessing for the activists, as both the quadruped and his building are protected and he is therefore an inhibitor of the road project.

But then came Gerhard Pock. The experienced nature filmmaker drew attention to himself with a serious accusation: the pictures of “Ferdl” were staged! Because it shows a field hamster, but not its environment. The St. Pöltner, who, among other things, was on the road with the camera for the ORF series “Universum”, was recently absolutely certain that “the pictures were not taken in the field”. He did not keep this opinion to himself, on the contrary. He also drew attention to himself at the town hall, where many S34 supporters…More

“I was wrong”
But now Pock is rowing backwards. “I was wrong,” he laments. He met opponents of the S…-34, previously criticized as possible fraudsters, and was convinced of the existence of what is now probably the most famous rodent in the state capital. “There is an entire colony,” says Pock enthusiastically. He was also able to convince himself of the authenticity of the photos.

Cubs instead of pregnant females
And what about the pregnant female field hamster that he says he handed over to the activists a year ago? “That was probably a long time ago. And there were two cubs,” he explains now…