Despite the ongoing delay of President Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s planned move out of the run-down Bellevue Palace, the process of relocating the resident wildlife has already begun. According to reporting by Der Spiegel, the President’s official residence is slated for an eight-year renovation, necessitating that Steinmeier move into temporary accommodation at the main train station.
To prepare the site for the construction area starting in August, the current pond on the Bellevue grounds must be drained. Any particularly protected amphibians found within the pond must be relocated strictly according to species protection regulations. A specialized engineering firm has been organizing the legally compliant move of the frogs and newts into a larger substitute pond located behind the palace.
Ideally, these relocations take place during the toad migration season. This migration started in March and is not yet complete. As of mid-April, 118 newts and 39 frogs have successfully moved into their new habitat in the larger pond.
The Federal Presidential Office declined to itemize the specific costs associated with moving the amphibians, referring only to the broad category of “Outdoor Facilities and Infrastructure” which amounts to 162 million Euro. This comprehensive figure encompasses paths, security systems, geothermal technology, general building logistics, and the protected park area itself. Meanwhile, Steinmeier’s move has faced further setbacks because the designated temporary quarters near the main train station had not been finished on schedule due to severe winter frost.
