The Balkan Terrapin Returns to Ston

Release of juvenile Balkan Terrapins into a newly restored pond in Ston Field, marking the International Day for Biological Diversity and Nature Protection Day in the Republic of Croatia, as part of the 2026 EU Projects Open Days.

We invite you to the event “Return to the Ston Pond – release of juvenile Balkan Terrapins into a newly restored pond in Ston Field”, which will take place on Friday, 22 May 2026, starting at 10:00 AM, at Veliki Kaštio Fortress in Ston.

The juvenile Balkan Terrapins will symbolically mark the International Day for Biological Diversity and Nature Protection Day in the Republic of Croatia with their return to the Ston pond, as part of the 2026 EU Projects Open Days, organized by the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds.

The juvenile Balkan Terrapins, bred at the Zagreb Zoo Institution, will be released into the newly restored Ston pond, a safe and suitable habitat for their further development. This event represents an important step in implementing conservation activities for the strictly protected Balkan Terrapin population in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County and highlights the importance of restoring Mediterranean freshwater habitats.

The programme will begin with a short introductory address, followed by a visit to the release site for the juvenile Balkan Terrapins.