A month ago in Dragoman an adult white stork, suffered from contact with unprotected electric line, was found under a nest. Thanks to students and visitors at the Wetland Conservation Centre the bird was sent for treatment of injured wing in Stara Zagora. Today it was released.

BALKANI often responds to signals from citizens for defenseless birds. The recent years we have sent dozens of birds to the Wildlife Rescue Centre in Stara Zagora. Recently BALKANI was incorporated to the database of the Emergency number 112 for environmental signals on territory of Sofia and Sofia region. We appreciate the trust you have in us!

In many cases, you can help yourself by following the instructions given by our colleagues from the Wildlife Rescue Centre – Green Balkans.

1. Accidents during hunting

2. Crossing the critical distance line

3. Defense of cubs

Experts from the Wildlife Society Balkans prepared the leaflet Short rules to avoid incidents with bears in their habitat. The association offers the municipalities inhabited by bears, to disseminate the leaflet amongst the population.
Kostadin Valchev – Expert in the Program for the Study and Conservation of Bears – Tel. 0884268884

Existing information on the species in Bulgaria is very scarce. For the first time the presence of lynx in Bulgaria was registered in 1862 and is considered definitely extinct from our country since 1941.

From then until 1999, observed individuals or found traces of the activity of species were periodically reported in different areas. The information comes mainly from local people, but evidence is lacking.

Only in winter 2002/2003 Balkani Wildlife Society team recorded traces of lynx in central western Bulgaria. Now it is known for certain that the species returnes to the country but additional, detailed and long-term studies are required.

In 2008 a project of Balkani for collecting samples for hair analysis and study of lynx was implemented. The presence of the species was proved in Western Stara planina , based on DNA analysis of hair (90% confidence).

Indisputable evidence for the presence of lynx are the pictures of 2 individuals made by photo traps in Osogovo mountain in 2008 and 2009.

Training of Bear emergency teаm in Bulgaria took place in Smolyan and State Hunting Station – Kormisosh, Bulgaria. The training has been organized within the project titled “Improving the conditions for large carnivore conservation – a transfer of best practices” (LIFE EX-TRA). Bulgarian partners of this project are the Ministry of Environment and Water and Balkani Wildlife Society. Representatives of the three National parks – Central Balkan, Pirin and Rila; and REI Smolian participated the training. The trainer was Prof. Djuro Huber – co-chair of European Brown Bear Specialist Group and lecturer in Zagreb Veterinarian University. As a practical part of the training three bears form bear enclosure in Kormisosh have been immobilized, marked with micro chips, measurements were taken, as well as different samples. Necropsy of animals killed by different predators was carried out in order to show how to distinguish the reason for mortality. The participants in the meeting discussed and planned the future activities of the Bear Emergency Team (BET) and damage assessment, preparation of field forms, etc. Future legislation changes in order to make the BET more efficient have also been discussed. With this meeting the beginning of the BET protocol in Bulgaria has begun.

There is hardly anyone to be disappointed by the impressive biodiversity of the region. There is growing the highest grass of the earth, the smallest flowering plant on the planet, insectivorous plants, the beautiful water lilies and many other amazing representatives of the Bulgarian flora. Fauna adapted to aquatic life is no less impressive: playful otters, predatory terrapins, secretive bitterns, loud-voiced warblers, tree frogs and many others. Only the birds are numbering over 215 species! Chepan mountain is like an outdoor botanical garden – the limestone ridges are rich in Balkan and Bulgarian endemic  species.

Well marked eco-routes, wooden bridges, observation tower and information boards promote safety and awareness to every visitor. In 2009, the Wetlands conservation center “Dragoman marsh” opened its doors and now welcomes its visitors with the wetlands exhibition, also provide binoculars, scopes, bicycles and tourist guide services.

Tourist Company Traventuria will take you to this unique area, located just 40 km from Sofia.

A special educational program has been developed for school groups. It presents the merits of wetlands in Bulgaria in an interesting and attractive way. The objective is to cultivate friendly behavior in the young generation, to teach pupils how to use binoculars, scopes and bird guides. Each participant will realize the importance of wetlands and will see the movie “The live marsh”, as well as will examine samples of the most common aquatic plants .

Programs for one-day and half day trips can be found on www.pytuvane.com.

For Further information – Traventuriya Ltd. – 02/4890883 02/4890885 and. More about the conservation activities of Balkani Wildlife Society in the region:

Price for full day trip: 15 BGN

Period of implementation: April-October

Price is per person, valid for a minimum of 30 registered participants and includes: a professional guide from the Agency, a local expert, bus Sofia – Dragoman – Sofia, entrance fees, binoculars, scopes, and medical insurance.

Considering the importance of natural ecosystems, their conservation and sustainable management, Balkani Wildlife Society starts implementation of the project: “Forest and wetlands in Bulgaria – integrated instruments for mitigation of global warming and conservation of nature”

Funded by Global Environment Facility  Small Grants Program

Our Partners are:

Rhodope Project Society and State Forestry Ivaylovgrad

The project is supported by Ministry of Environment and Waters and Executive Forest Agency

The project activities are carried out in three different model areas

1. Eastern Rhodopes: Ivaylovgrad Municipality, State Forestry

2. Western Rhodope: Smolyan Municipality, Cooperation of private forest owners Gela, Solishta, Stoikite

3. Dragoman marsh: Sofia District, Dragoman Municipality

Main objectives

1. Specified methodology for study the storage and fixation of CO2 of 3 valuable ecosystems in Bulgaria and one year study of their importance to reduce the effects of global warming and comparison with the objectives of biodiversity conservation
2. Study of the possibilities for application with projects for forests and wetlands in the markets for carbon emissions, assist the Ministry of Environment and Waters in the economic analysis of projects and promotion of opportunities for financing.
3. Adapting the management of forests and wetlands, and implementation of model activities such as reforestation with native tree species and use of biomass from marshes as renewable energy source

Although up to the moment only 50% of the planned mountain ski runs are explored the results are worrying. Almost all ski runs are planned in centuries-old coniferous forests which conserve unique relict bird species. In South Europe these birds are isolated only in the wildest and highest parts of the mountains, usually in north-facing slopes. In case all ski resorts are built up their survival could be questionable.

Since the autumn of 2009 experts have found out more than 15 couples of the Eurasian Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium passerinum), a species which until recently has been regarded as almost vanished in Bulgaria. A little bit more frequently found but also endangered by the construction activities in the mountains are the other birds found at the present bird mapping: the Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus), Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus), Hazel Grouse (Bonasia bonasia), the Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius), Grey-headed Woodpecker (Picus canus).

The research is performed with the support of the Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation under the “Let Nature Remain in Bulgaria” Project financed by the EEA Grants.