visitors to the famous karst caves Postojna in Slovenia were first allowed to see three young European Proteus, also called the white dragon or human fish.
These rare amphibians live only in the underground lakes and rivers in the West of the Balkan Peninsula. They are blind because spend all their life in total darkness. Earlier, the Proteas were caught EN masse for sale to zoos and tourists. Their numbers fell sharply. Currently, the species taken under protection.
Proteus can live to be a hundred years, reproduce only once a decade. The Park Postojna trying to breed them in aquariums, but it is a long process, which is not always crowned with success.
In 2016, out of 60 eggs is appeared only 21 Proteus. Now, three years later, careful observations in the laboratory, three of them presented to the public.
the Little “dragons” will be allowed to stay only 30 tourists a day, said AFP. The caves themselves visited by 700 thousand people a year.
Anna Lysenko
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