Today, 10th of May 2021, we celebrate the National Day of the Dalmatian Pelican. This day was designated 5 years ago, on the 10th of May 2017, to respect the efforts, to contribute further to the protection of this flagship species of Albania and Divjaka-Karavasta National Park and to raise the public awareness and particularly the local one on the importance of the conservation of this symbolic species.
Today, we celebrate the results of the long-term efforts for the protection of the species that started since 2000 with the work of our colleague Taulant Bino, together with members of the local community of Divjaka and Rremas.
In year 2000, the Dalmatian Pelican colony was in the brink of extinction with only 19 breeding pairs. The then efforts, despite the very troubled times in terms of poor socio-economic conditions and total lack of public order, halted the further reduction of the colony, testified the first increase in numbers towards a positive trend and marked the first efforts for raising public awareness at local and national level for the protection of the Dalmatian Pelican.
Due to those efforts, for the 20 years to come, the Dalmatian Pelican turned in the most successful program of wildlife recovery in Albania and in a real symbol of efforts for the protection of birds in Albania. Since 2013, the colony started to flourish further reaching in 2020 the number of 85 breeding pairs, the highest figure registered in the last 40 years in Divjaka-Karavasta.
Today, AOS would like to give a heartful thank to everybody that has contributed for the protection and the recovery of the Dalmatian Pelican in Albania.
