Hans Freiherr von Berlepsch

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Portrait of Baron Hans von Berlepsch on a painting

Karl Rudolf Hans Freiherr von Berlepsch (born October 18, 1857 at the Seebach moated castle in Seebach , Thuringia ; † September 2, 1933 there ), was a German professional officer and ornithologist .

Life

His parents were Rudolf Sittig Gottlob von Berlepsch (1825 - 1884) and Pauline geb. Barthels. He still had 2 brothers. His uncle was August von Berlepsch .

Hans Freiherr von Berlepsch entered military service after graduating from high school in 1879 and was dismissed from him in 1918 with the rank of lieutenant colonel .

Berlepsch is one of the founders of scientific and practical bird protection , combining his research with the material basis of his Seebach castle estate. He was enthusiastic about birds and their protection from an early age. In 1877 he planted the first bird protection trees and began redesigning the Seebach palace gardens . In doing so, he implemented self-imposed requirements for bird protection. Throughout his life he also dealt with the provision of nesting aids and with the winter feeding of birds. He designed the first nest boxes (including the "von Berlepsche Nisthöhle"), winter-proof birdhouses and the feeding bell . He received suggestions on his numerous trips to near and far abroad. He traveled to North Africa as early as 1883/84 , undertook an extensive trip to South America in 1886 , repeatedly visited Italy and Switzerland and in 1908 took part in the third scientific ornithological trip to Norway , Svalbard and Bear Island . In 1909/1910 we went to the northern Arctic Ocean and the island of Novaya Zemlya again. Von Berlepsch contributed significantly to the fact that in 1908 the "Bird Protection Act for the German Reich" could be promulgated. In 1908, the Royal Prussian state government made Seebach Castle a "state-approved test and model station for bird protection", which was also linked to public funding. Then von Berlepsch, "the bird baron", had Seebach rebuilt according to ornithological criteria. So z. B. over 100 artificial nesting opportunities. A scientific head of the research station and several assistants were hired, whose tasks included the regular implementation of courses to convey the ideal and practical questions of bird protection. Von Berlepsch put his thoughts on the question of bird protection down in the work "The entire bird protection", which appeared constantly expanded in 12 editions and was translated into 6 languages. In his field, he put Seebach's guiding principle into practice: "Ability is knowledge and knowledge is work".

Together with his distinguished employees, von Berlepsch laid the foundations for Seebach to be awarded the official title of " bird protection station " in 1936 as part of the new nature conservation ordinance, as one of 6 institutions in the then German Reich.

His simple grave can be found in the cemetery in Seebach. The inscription on the grave cross reads: "Dr. hc Hans Frhr. V. Berlepsch. Old master of the German bird protection. 1857 - 1933". In front of the grave cross there is a bird bath sunk into the ground.

The von Berlepsche moated castle in Seebach with castle park. Renovated around 1912, previously a ruin

The bird sanctuary founded by Berlepsch is now operated by the Free State of Thuringia as the state bird sanctuary in Seebach .

Honors

criticism

The work of Berlepsch in relation to nature conservation is still controversial. From today's perspective, he himself must have been extremely cruel. So he killed thousands of birds in the service of supposed science. In 1908, together with fellow researchers, he is said to have caused a veritable bird massacre on Bear Island in just a few days, plundered clutches and took young birds with him to Central Europe.

Works

  • The entire bird protection. Its justification and execution . 1st edition. Gera-Untermhaus: Köhler 1899
  • Last hand edition: The entire bird protection. Its justification and execution on a scientific, natural basis. 12th edition. Neudamm: Neumann 1929 (also contains an autobiography)

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Schalansky, J. (2011): Atlas of the remote islands. Bear Island. Hamburg.
personal data
SURNAME Berlepsch, Hans Freiherr von
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Berlepsch, Karl Rudolf Hans Freiherr von (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German ornithologist
DATE OF BIRTH October 18, 1857
PLACE OF BIRTH Seebach moated castle , Thuringia
DATE OF DEATH September 2, 1933
Place of death Seebach moated castle , Thuringia