In June 2026, Schloss Blühnbach welcomed Larissa Friedrich and Xaver Grundner, students from the College of Forestry in Bruck an der Mur, who are undertaking an important scientific research project as part of their dissertation studies.

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Working with the Foundation's historic collection of chamois antlers from the Blühnbach Valley, the students are recording a series of detailed morphometric measurements to investigate how antler characteristics have evolved over more than a century. By examining specimens dating back to around 1900, the project aims to identify long-term changes in antler size, shape and other physical characteristics through scientific comparison and analysis.

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The exceptional collection preserved at Schloss Blühnbach provides a rare opportunity to study more than 100 years of specimens from a single Alpine valley, creating a valuable resource for wildlife and conservation research. The findings will contribute to the students' dissertations while also enhancing the scientific understanding of one of Austria's most iconic mountain species and the factors that may have influenced its development over time.

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The Frederick R. Koch Foundation is pleased to support research of this nature and remains committed to encouraging the study, preservation and appreciation of the natural heritage of the Blühnbach Valley.