We bring you an interview prepared for the campaign “I am with you too” about the biodiversity of Montenegro, led by the Delegation of EU in Montenegro. The interview was prepared by our herpetologist Vuk Iković.
How did you decide to study amphibians and reptiles? Why did you choose those species?
These are species very useful to humans, but in popular opinion they are not attractive, even hated. In Montenegro, research on amphibians, reptiles, and their habitats is lacking. Owls, squirrels, or dolphins might be more pleasant to the human eye — they look warmer and cuter — but the role of a population of snakes or frogs is no less important in nature than other species around us. That is why, in order to highlight their services, I began local research of these species. When you get to know snakes and frogs better, you realize that the presence of frogs in your vineyard reduces the need for treating fungal diseases. You understand that snakes primarily feed on rodents, which often transmit infectious diseases, and that poisons from vipers and adders are used to make many medicines for high blood pressure and diabetes.
What do you like most about your work?
When you understand the role of an animal in the ecosystem, you realise how that species contributes to the quality of human life. Another pleasure is watching how a species adapts to sudden changes. For example, how do water turtles behave when their swamp — the place where they live and feed — dries out? Humans are part of nature, and that is why we rest best when we are in a forest or water or water surrounded by forest. When you observe animals and nature, you forget the problems left behind in the office. And while you are away from the office, you see work tasks differently — you don’t start from problems to solve them, but from the goals you want to achieve. You see things written in books, but you also see things that are hard to describe. Things that happen only before your eyes. The beauty is that you look life in the eyes. You see natural processes, how a river grows and disappears, how a bird chooses an oak tree from which the chicks will first take flight. Then you realize we can all use this space if we respect each other’s basic needs.
What does field research on amphibians and reptiles look like? Describe one of your workdays.
It’s summer. Three days ago, I set 212 traps for water turtles in rivers and streams from Herceg Novi to Budva. I need to determine how many turtles live there and whether something is bothering them. I get up at 5 a.m. to collect traps while it’s still cool and take them to the shade of an old oak tree. There, I will count and measure the turtles. Jelena is helping me today. I need to wake her up, but she’s sleeping so sweetly. I wear fishing boots so I can move faster through the water. Where there are no settlements, the river is clean and overgrown with laurel and willow forests. I enter the part of the river near settlements. Occasionally, I trip over an old tire or stove that has become a hiding place for turtles. Nearby is a barn from which waste water containing urine and fertiliser flows into the river. I have to wade in to retrieve the traps, because if they stay in the water too long, turtles will suffocate.
At that moment, a local villager approaches.
“What are you doing?” he asks curiously.
“We are researching turtles.”
“What school teaches that?”
“Biology.”
“Is that a university?”
“Yes.”
“It’s not easy for you. It’s easier for me with cows than for you with turtles.”
We pulled out the traps. Besides turtles, there were crabs, fish, water snakes, and frogs inside. One trap even contained a small duckling. They were a bit stressed but are now safe again. The turtles rest in the shade while marking begins — each turtle gets a number. A systematic examination (length, width, height, weight…) was done and they were photographed. Now they can return to the water. It’s already noon. We have to collect another round of traps. We have to cross a reed bed. It’s 40 degrees Celsius in the open. Water that was 5 degrees Celsius four months ago is now 26 degrees Celsius. We have to wear long sleeves because sharp reed leaves scratch the skin and cause stinging. Today we still have the Jaška River left. It flows into Jaz beach. A great opportunity to swim in the sea and continue catching turtles. We use a boat for this river because the water is over 2 meters deep. We came across nets set by poachers. Five turtles were trapped in them. Two didn’t survive and suffocated. We record such situations and will inform the inspection after returning from the field. The day is ending, it’s about 8 p.m., but we caught and measured about 100 turtles. We return to accommodation and pack the equipment for tomorrow.
How many days a year do you spend in the field?
Usually, I spend between 30 and 70 days a year in the field. Fieldwork is needed to understand the condition of nature — an ecosystem — and whether the construction of a project will negatively impact the river or forest. We can read dozens of books about snakes, but if we do not visit and see how they live and cope with weather conditions and various human pressures, we won’t have a clear picture of what happens in reality.
What is the methodology — do you monitor species in a specific area, photograph, collect information, then process it? Can you explain the process in detail?
The research goal defines the method. An objective result requires systematic collection of precisely defined data. If you want to know how many turtles live in a river, then you need to set as many traps as possible where turtles frequently pass. To understand how sand exploitation, waste disposal, or construction affects them, all visible changes in the field are recorded and compared between places where humans are present and where they are not.
What instruments do you use during field research?
If we study turtles, we use traps — nets to catch turtles. Bait is needed to attract as many turtles as possible into the trap. Usually, sausages or liver are used as bait. Empty plastic bottles are part of the trap. We collect them from dumpsters. Bottles keep parts of the trap above water so turtles always have enough oxygen. Then we use calipers to measure body size, thermometers to measure water temperature, scales to weigh turtles, a camera, a device or app for geographic positioning of caught turtles, and for recording pollution in the field. Fishing boots, sun-protective clothing — long sleeve shirts and a hat — a boat, and a vehicle to carry everything are also necessary.
Is your job exciting?
Some species don’t leave their hiding spots in wind, rain, or strong sun. Many factors must align for you to find the dice snake on Sinjajevina or the Montenegrin salamander in the Prokletije Mountains. You need to be at the habitat by sunrise at the latest. One option is to camp in a tent at the habitat; another is to start fieldwork at 4 a.m. Sometimes you visit the same place several times and find nothing. This can demotivate field workers. Besides, you have to be physically fit and resilient to hot and cold temperatures, cold winds, and summer downpours. Still, all this makes fieldwork exciting. On the other hand, when you see individuals abusing nature — digging up rivers, cutting forests, waste — it tires a person because you see nature’s scars that do not heal.