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Who are we?
Sauvons Bambi is a non-profit association whose mission is to protect and save wildlife for free in our countryside before the hay harvest, throughout Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
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A story of commitment to nature
The adventure of our non-profit Sauvons Bambi began in 2020. Alerted by a farmer friend who was desperate to find fawns mowed down every year, Cédric decided to act. He looked into the methods newly tested in Germany and Switzerland. He equipped himself with a drone fitted with a thermal camera to detect animals invisible to the human eye; he succeeded in his first rescues and then launched the non-profit, which has since grown considerably in Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
Participate in wildlife preservation
Saving the wildlife of our countryside
During the mowing season, as day is just breaking, the volunteers of Sauvons Bambi are already at work. Using drones equipped with thermal cameras, they fly over fields for free before mowing to save the lives hidden in the tall grass. Their mission: to locate and protect fawns, leverets, and ground-nesting birds before the agricultural machinery passes through. Every rescue is a true victory for wildlife and biodiversity!
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Let’s avoid the silent tragedies caused by mowing
At the dawn of spring, our meadows provide a natural refuge for many wild animals. Every year, thousands of them lose their lives in excruciating pain, despite all the precautions taken by those in the field during the hay mowing period, which coincides with the birthing season.
Animals camouflaged from predators in the natural nursery
Many wild animals in our countryside give birth in the tall grass to protect their offspring from predators. This protective instinct leads the doe to stay at a distance from her fawn so as not to leave any scent on it. She rests nearby while keeping an eye on her young. The fawn, for its part, has the instinct to remain motionless and silent so as not to be spotted.
For their part, some birds build their nests directly on the ground, in winter cereals and dense grass. As for hares, they choose winter plowing and these same cereal fields to give birth and raise their leverets.
When the natural refuge turns into a death trap...
When agricultural machinery goes into action, the instinct of these wild animals becomes their worst enemy: in the face of danger, they do not move. Instead of fleeing, they remain crouched on the ground, thinking their immobility will be enough to protect them. But against the blades of the mowers, this strategy leaves them no chance… That is where we step in: our thermal cameras allow us to detect them before it is too late.
A health hazard for livestock and the food chain
When agricultural machines mow fields, they unknowingly kill the animals hiding there. The decomposing carcasses create an environment conducive to the development of botulism, a deadly bacteria. Mixed with crops intended for livestock feed, it contaminates cattle, sheep, and horses.
This scourge can lead to considerable losses for farms. Once botulism sets in, the consequences extend to the entire food chain, jeopardizing the health safety of farms and livestock. Our intervention helps prevent this catastrophe. We act directly at the source by preventing the death of hidden animals during mowing, and thus the development of botulism.
How does a rescue take place?
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Contact us before mowing: a free service
For our intervention to be effective, please make your request 24 to 48 hours before mowing, preferably via our dedicated BAMBI MAP website or by telephone if absolutely necessary.
Our teams intervene early in the morning, between 5:30 AM and 9:00 AM, when the cool temperatures allow for optimal thermal detection. The earlier we arrive, the better our chances of detecting animals hidden in your plots. When the sun is too high and temperatures are elevated, the ground becomes warmer than the animal, making detection extremely difficult, if not impossible…
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Provide two assistants in addition to the pilot
Our drone pilot proceeds with the overflight of your field alone. However, for the mission to be a complete success, he needs two people on-site to assist with the rescue, as he cannot be at the controls of his drone and handle a wild animal at the same time. So please plan ahead!
Once the animal is detected, the assistant, guided remotely, goes into the plot. They will then place the found animal in a protection crate in compliance with the association’s Protocol, which was explained to them at the start of the mission by our pilot.
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Bring your rescue equipment
To ensure their safety, fawns are placed in suitable crates (2 crates 30 cm high placed one on top of the other and sealed with cable ties) or a canvas bag (depending on the age of the fawn), prepared by you. Animals are handled with disposable gloves to ensure no scent is left on the animal.
The crates are placed in a quiet area away from noise and in the shade at the edge of the woods. The agricultural work must then be carried out without delay! A fawn, for example, cannot go more than 3 to 4 hours without being nursed by its mother. Time is of the essence!
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Release the wild animals of our countryside safely
The farmer is responsible for releasing the wild animals in the best possible conditions after mowing. They must be released quickly after the agricultural work and at the edge of the woods. Don’t worry about the fawns: the doe is never far away.
This rescue process, used for years by non-profit associations throughout Europe, allows animals to return safely to their natural environment. This process has been validated by the Department for the Study of the Natural and Agricultural Environment (DEMNA).
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Our actions don’t stop there
Thanks to our expertise, our equipment, and our network of volunteers, we carry out other actions to protect wildlife.
Awareness of the dangers of mowing
We organize awareness campaigns for farmers, hunters, agricultural contractors, and landowners to make them aware of the dangers of mowing for wildlife and livestock. We demonstrate that simple, effective, and accessible solutions exist to protect nature while securing farm operations.
Thermal detection training and mentoring for new pilots
We offer all volunteer pilot candidates specialized training in the use of drones equipped with thermal cameras. New candidates learn to fly the drones, analyze thermal readings, and organize effective interventions to detect animals hidden in fields.
We have also set up a mentoring system: new pilots benefit from personalized support for their first missions thanks to more experienced pilots. The goal is to provide them with a framework that allows for sharing experience in the field.
Wildlife rescue training
We also teach volunteers best practices for handling these animals and placing them in protection crates.
Thermal drone sales
Through a partner specialized in rescue, Sauvons Bambi offers the sale of DJI drones equipped with thermal cameras. These drones are a solution for securing fields and protecting wildlife before each mowing independently. Our teams provide thermal detection training to ensure maximum effectiveness for new volunteer pilot candidates.
Animal survey
Thanks to our thermal drones, we participate in animal population surveys in nature reserves and large agricultural plains, particularly of partridges in spring. This technology allows us to locate, count, and monitor local species without intrusion or disturbance.
This data is valuable for land managers, biologists, and nature protection associations, as it provides an accurate assessment of biodiversity in Belgium. For example, we are currently testing partridge counting operations in spring, in collaboration with DEMNA.
Together, we can save the wildlife of our countryside: support us!
Every intervention is a race against time, a fight to preserve life. But we cannot do it alone. With your support, we can continue to protect these fragile beings, invisible to the naked eye, but so very precious.
Make a donation to our association
Every one-off or recurring donation has a direct impact on our actions. It allows us to acquire drones equipped with thermal cameras, which are unfortunately very expensive, and other equipment essential for our rescues. Our donors also help cover the travel expenses of our volunteers and the overhead costs necessary for the association’s operation. Making a donation means supporting our project and offering a second chance to animals threatened by mowing.
Join the members of the non-profit
By becoming a member of the Sauvons Bambi non-profit, you join a community of enthusiasts committed to wildlife protection. Your membership is a strong signal: it gives us the means to pursue our mission and extend our actions to protect even more animals. Furthermore, you will be given priority for our intervention before mowing operations on your land.
Become a volunteer for Sauvons Bambi
If you share our love for nature and want to take action, why not join our team as a volunteer? The pilots and rescuers of Sauvons Bambi are at the heart of our mission and act in their own region. Our volunteers work to ensure that every animal at risk in our fields has a chance to grow up.
A solidarity network: where are our pilots?
Thanks to our network of more than 70 volunteer pilots in Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, thousands of animals have already been saved. Every year, we recruit between 20 and 30 new pilots to strengthen our actions. By purchasing a drone and becoming a volunteer pilot, you will join a community passionate and committed to nature.
Check our interactive map to discover where our pilots are located and see the extent of our commitment in your region.
Invest in a drone to save wildlife
Do you want to get even more actively involved? Invest in a drone and become a volunteer pilot. We offer you comprehensive training and a discount on the purchase of your drone. Join our network to contribute directly to the protection of wildlife.
Investing for wildlife
Become a volunteer pilot for Sauvons Bambi
Do you also want to participate in saving thousands of wild animals in our countryside? If you are located in Belgium and are motivated to give a little of your time, join us as a volunteer pilot! You will receive training to carry out your missions in the field, in your area of action.
Becoming a volunteer pilot
Our sponsors
Our actions would not be possible without the precious support of our sponsors. Thanks to their commitment and generosity, we have the necessary resources to intervene effectively in the field. We send a sincere thank you to all our sponsors for their commitment.
