The Montenegrin Ecologists Society, in cooperation with NGO Mogul, organized the “Frog Day” event at Lake Šas in Ulcinj.
Save the Frogs Day is an event dedicated to education and awareness-raising activities aimed at increasing public understanding of the threats facing frogs – the most diverse group of amphibians – and their importance in maintaining a healthy environment. The event was established by the international organization Save the Frogs, which is devoted to amphibian conservation and empowering citizens to take action for nature protection. Since its launch in 2009, the event has spread to 58 countries around the world.
The goal of the event is to educate young people, especially primary school students from the Ulcinj municipality, about the importance of preserving amphibians and their habitats. The focus is on the endangered and endemic Skadar frog (Pelophylax shqipericus), which inhabits only a small area of Montenegro and Albania (Lake Skadar and the Bojana River basin).
Wetland habitats in the Ulcinj region are highly threatened by pollution and rapid urbanisation. These wetlands are home to the Skadar frog, an endangered species directly impacted by human activity, including pollution, drainage of wetlands, habitat destruction, and over-harvesting. Effective measures for species and habitat protection depend on the awareness and involvement of future generations. By helping children learn more about amphibians and their role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem — through play, learning, and fun — we can raise awareness and foster a sense of responsibility for the nature that surrounds them and on which they and their families depend.
Through a series of interactive games and workshops, children primarily learned about the Skadar frog and why its protection matters.
They also explored the ecosystem services provided by the habitats where the Skadar frog lives, right in their local environment.
In addition, the children were introduced to other amphibians and reptiles found in the area.
