Every year since 2016, a global census of pelicans in South Eastern Europe has taken place in Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Northern Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Ukraine and Turkey. More than 100 wetlands are visited at the same time in order to have a global estimate of the pelican population living in Eastern Europe. As these birds are migratory, it is important to carry out the counts in the wetlands simultaneously.
At the beginning of Noé's intervention in Montenegro and Albania, the pelican population was low, with only about 30 nests counted at Lake Skadar.
Pelican populations were threatened by illegal hunting, pollution from agricultural activities, mass tourism and the non-respect of nesting areas during the breeding season.
At the beginning of Noé's intervention in Montenegro and Albania, the pelican population was low, with only about 30 nests counted at Lake Skadar.
Pelican populations were threatened by illegal hunting, pollution from agricultural activities, mass tourism and the non-respect of nesting areas during the breeding season.
Since 2013, Noé, in partnership with local associations and authorities, has been supporting the protection of nesting areas, installing new resting rafts for the colonies, and increasing surveillance patrols to prevent illegal fishing and hunting activities on the lake.
Since 2019, local farmers and fishermen are being trained in more sustainable practices to preserve the local ecosystem, and tourism stakeholders are being sensitised to the protection of this species, in order to make the pelican a driver for local economic development.
During the first census in 2016, 450 individuals were recorded in Albania and Montenegro.
The results of the 2021 census indicate a population of over 800 Dalmatian pelicans in the area, an increase of almost 50% in 5 years! New, previously uninhabited wetlands in the vicinity have even been colonised!
Noé and its partners are very proud of these very encouraging results for the future.
