Animated Film about the Balkan Terrapin
The animated film “Mara – A Life for New Generations” tells the story of a brave Balkan terrapin named Mara.
News and Events
Donation of TURTOSave fishing traps
The LIFE for Mauremys project continues its activities aimed at conserving the native European pond turtle and Balkan terrapin, while also supporting local communities in developing sustainable fishing practices.
How Do Our Activities Affect Ecosystem Services?
As part of the LIFE for Mauremys project, we aim to understand how our activities affect ecosystem services, because we know that conserving the Balkan Terrapin is not possible without preserving healthy and functional ecosystems.
Another Pond slider Removed
The Public Institution for the Management of Protected Natural Areas of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County recently received a report about the presence of the invasive alien species Pond slider (Trachemys scripta) in the Vid settlement
Closing Event of the Mediterranean Wetland Week
What began with a two-day educational seminar on ecological innovations in agriculture concluded with a joyful public event for children and adults, which attracted a large number of locals from Konavle.
Join Us for a Mauremys Day
On Sunday, May 25, 2025, we will celebrate Mauremys Day at the Zagreb Zoo.
Breeding Centre and habitat for the Balkan Terrapin featured in ZOO Exibition
To mark the 100th anniversary of the Zagreb Zoo, an educational exhibition titled "Only 100 Years Young!" has been set up at Zrinjevac Park in the heart of Zagreb.
What Is the Balkan Terrapin Up To?
We equipped several individuals with small telemetry devices and released them back into their habitats to track their movement.
LIFE for Mauremys at Science Festivals
This spring, the LIFE for Mauremys project was featured at two major science events – the MUZZA Week of Science (April 10–13, 2025) and the Festival of Science (May 5–10, 2025) in Zagreb.
Seminar on Sustainable Agriculture opened the Mediterranean Wetland Week
As part of the LIFE for Mauremys project, this year we organized the Mediterranean Freshwater Days event in Konavle, in collaboration with the local association Agroturizam Konavle.
New Basking Platforms Installed in Balkan Terrapin Habitats
As part of the activities under Work Package 2: Habitat Restoration and Improvement, new basking platforms for freshwater turtles were installed in ponds within the project area.
Breeding Centre and habitat for the Balkan Terrapin at Zagreb Zoo
The Balkan Terrapin habitat is an important part of the Zoo's breeding and educational activities, but also a new attraction that allows visitors to get a close-up view of this endangered and secretive species.
Join us at Mediterranean Wetland Week
This year, we are once again celebrating the Mediterranean Wetland Week – after Majkovi, the event is coming to Konavle!
Help Protect the Balkan Terrapin – Report Your Observations!
Project partners are inviting the local community of Ston, Majkovi, and Konavle to join the effort!
Final Conference of the Still Water Revival Project
On March 11 and 12, 2025, we participated in the final conference of the Still Water Revival held in Sinj under the title “Ponds and Wells – Traditional Heritage of Freshwater Ecosystems in Karst”.
Online Seminar on Sustainable Agriculture Held
Following significant interest in the sustainable agriculture seminar held in Majkovi, we organized an online seminar to enable the participation of as many farmers as possible, particularly those from the project area.
Invasive Alien Species in Croatia: Citizen Participation
One of the project's objectives is to remove invasive species from all locations where habitat restoration and improvement efforts are being carried out. By reporting observations of IAS, you can contribute to their early detection and containment.
Biologer: A Citizen Science Platform
Biologer is an important tool in the LIFE for Mauremys project. Biologists from the Hyla Association use it during every field survey in project areas, recording not only observations of the Balkan Terrapin but also other species.
Picture book showcased in Zagreb Zoo
The children's picture book MAUREMISI: Raising Our Voices to Save the Turtle! traveled through Dalmatian schools and has now arrived in Zagreb.
Project partners and Advisory Board meeting
The partners and the Advisory Board of the project met at the Faculty of Agriculture in Zagreb to present the achievements so far and discuss upcoming challenges and activities necessary for the long-term sustainability of the project.
Educational traveling exibition in Dubrovnik-Neretva County schools
The traveling exhibition, consisting of five educational posters, began its tour of schools in Dubrovnik-Neretva County in October 2024, accompanied by the workshop "The Story of the Balkan Terrapin."
Picture Book Tour in Dalmatian Schools
Hrvatske vode (the Croatian Waters) team visited Dalmatia to present their latest educational material—a picture book about Balkan terrapins, Mara and Maroje.
Cleaning action to improve conditions on Balkan Terrapin’s habitats
The autumn period is ideal for such activities because most aquatic animals are dormant, and we avoid the breeding and egg-laying seasons to minimize disturbance.
Workshop on Ecosystem Services: Contribution to the Conservation of the Balkan Terrapin
The company Geonatura organized a course on ecosystem services as part of the Erasmus+ project TUNE IT – Nature benefits: from theory to practice, with participation from team members of the Association Hyla and the Faculty of Agriculture.