Turtle offspring in Kaunas Zoo during the summer
The young turtles, which hatched last year from the eggs, collected from the places considered unsafe for their survival, spend their summer in the outdoor enclosure in the Kaunas Zoo. The enclosure was designed in the way that it would be similar to the natural habitat – there is a shallow pool and sandy terrestrial habitat. While the turtles are young and weak, they have a choice to bask under the lamps during cooler days and they get some food besides mosquito larvae, which are breeding in the pool. During the next two years the young turtles will be adapted to the natural conditions and, when they are 3 years old the youngsters will be released into their parent populations. A short video about their current life can be watched
" target="_blank">here. All videos from their life can be watched here.The students helped to restore the habitats of European pond turtle
The Student Society of Nature Sciences made an expedition into the project areas on the 8 – 10th June. The main aims of the expedition were to get to know more about the target species and to help in the habitat restoration. The project manager Dalia Bastytė introduced the students with the project activities, ecology of the target species and the problems they experience. Afterwards the students helped to restore the habitats of the European pond turtle and the Great created newt in Veisiejai and Meteliai regional parks by pulling out Typha sp., which encroaches newly established water bodies. Late in the evening the students were listening to Hyla arborea and Bufo calamita calling in the newly dug pond. Finally, they had an excursion in Veisiejai Regional Park led by the park ecologist Irma Maciulevičienė. A short film about the students helping to restore the habitats can be watched here: http://youtu.be/KCpY93uWuog
Julija Petrošiūtė's photo
European Bombina song contest
The red-bellied toads (Bombina bombina) from five countries, namely: Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania and Sweden, were competing in the European Bombina song contest on Friday (11th of May 2012). We are proud to notice, that the choir of the red-bellied toads from Lithuania won the international competition! More information can be found here: http://www.life-bombina.de/
The habitats for the European pond turtles are being restored
The habitats for endangered species - the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) are being restored during winter time and early spring, while the animals are still hibernating. This year 18 ponds and 6 egg laying sites for this species is planned to be restored.