Drones, farmers and volunteers: how Luxembourg is saving reindeer calves

From late April to July, an invisible rescue front is unfolding in the Luxembourg countryside. While farmers prepare their mowing equipment, dozens of hunters, volunteers and members of the Sauvons Bambi Luxembourg ASBL organisation scour the fields with thermal imaging drones to find and rescue fawns hiding in the tall grass. For the animals themselves, it's a natural instinct to lie low and not move. But it is this instinct that turns them into invisible targets for the cutting mechanisms of agricultural machines.

This annual operation, which the Ministry of Agriculture coordinates together with the Federation of Hunters and the Ministry of Agriculture, has saved the lives of 674 fawns on 12,000 hectares of hayfields in 2025. The key to success was the volunteer system set up in March - a list of people for each commune ready to go on a quick call from farmers.

The process is well established: before mowing begins, the farmer contacts hunters or volunteers who arrive with drones, scan the area and identify the animals' heat signatures in the grass. Once found, the cubs are carefully moved to a safe place and then returned to the site when the mowing is complete.

Despite its success, the Sauvons Bambi Luxembourg organisation is facing staff shortages. Today, it has only about 10 drone pilots at its disposal. Ahead of the 2026 season, an active search for new volunteers has begun. Required:

• drone pilots (training and certification - free of charge);
• Ground helpers who physically move reindeer from the field.

Contact for participation and training: contact@sauvonsbambi.lu

It is also noted that many hunters are already using drones as part of the management of their hunting grounds, making them indispensable partners in such operations.

Agriculture Minister Martine Hansen emphasises the importance of this area: "The agricultural sector needs this service, and I thank everyone involved. In 2026, our common goal is to expand the rescue network throughout the country."

In addition to recruiting new volunteers, the ministry is working to prepare an updated national register of Background Search Assistants and an information campaign among farmers.