Turtles day in Meteliai Region Park - 2008-10-20

Second of October, Lithuanian Fund for Nature spread a message for everbody about declining European pond turtle species. Traditionally third year „Turtles day“ was organizated in Meteliai Regional Park, Lazdijai district.

At the first part of day schoolchildren of Seirijai and Veisiejai cleared nesting sites and ponds of Juodbale Herpatological reserve: they pulled cutted shrubs, cleared nesting sites from unwanted vegetation and opened grounds for egg laying. After that, everybody met together in Meteliai Regional Park Directorate, where the schoolchildren presented interviews about turtles historical distribution in the surrounding locations. In the end of „ turtles day“ all event‘s members contructed the „bigest turtle“. Huge turtle was 5.2 metres lenght and 3 metres diametres, iron armour was decorated with children‘s color greetings.

Turtle day is one part of Project called “Protection of Emys orbicularis and amphibians in the North European lowlands“. European Commission Life Nature Programe is the main sponsor in this Project.