On February 2nd, the World Wetlands Day, the Škocjan caves Park, Slovenia visited the primary school Rudolf Ukovič Podgrad.
For older pupils we had a lecture on wetlands. We explained what wetlands are, why are they so important, which of the Slovenian wetlands are included in the Ramsar Convention, and what threatens their existence.
We then walked to the spring that feeds the troughs. In the troughs we saw newts, which belong to amphibians. Amphibians such as frogs, newts, salamanders and even human fish (olms) are important inhabitants of wetlands, but due to the destruction of habitats, pollution and the spread of disease, they are among the world's most endangered groups of animals.
The karstic ponds, which we also mentioned, belong to wetlands and were very important in the past, especially on the dry karst surface.
We have pointed out that today the biggest threat to biodiversity in the ponds is the introduction of non-native species such as goldfish and water lilies. If we get tired of caring for goldfish at home, we thus must not throw them into a nearby pond!
