Presentation of the \"Lend a Hand to Nature\" Project

Press Release from the Presentation of the Project "Lend a Hand to Nature" Held on January 11, 2024

Today, alongside the Poreč Home for the Elderly and Infirm, the "Lend a Hand to Nature" project was unveiled, focusing on the repopulation of red squirrels and the protection of urban wild animals in the town of Poreč. This project is slated to unfold over an extended period in Poreč through various activities, aiming to create a healthy and sustainable environment for wild animals, especially red squirrels, which are a vital part of the local ecosystem.

The project was initiated by Conny Peto Đeneš and Dražen Požarić, volunteers dedicated to caring for Poreč squirrels for four years. It will be implemented in collaboration with the Health Center Harmony, the Town of Poreč-Parenzo, Valamar d.d., the Zoo of the City of Zagreb, and supported by the Poreč Tourist Board, the Healthy Town of Poreč, and the Public Institution Natura Histrica. The project founders expressed gratitude to numerous volunteers and donors for supporting this initiative.

As Peto Đeneš mentioned, the project includes three pivotal elements: the repopulation of red squirrels within the town of Poreč and protection of urban wild animals, the reintegration of red squirrels at Pical, and the establishment of a wildlife rehab center in Istria.

Feeders, Waterers, and Houses for Squirrels, Birds, and Other Wild Animals

"The first component involves installing 45 nesting houses/shelters for squirrels, 18 feeders, 18 waterers for squirrels, eight houses for hedgehogs, 10 feeders for birds, five waterers and baths for birds and other wildlife, three hotels for insects, printing educational brochures and picture books for children, and holding educational lectures for citizens about promoting coexistence with wild animals in urban areas," said Peto Đeneš. This effort also includes planting trees crucial for squirrel nutrition, such as hazelnuts, walnuts, pines, and fruit trees, establishing safe crossings for squirrels and hedgehogs, and placing traffic and educational signs in key locations.

The Town of Poreč-Parenzo has promptly recognized and supported this project financially and logistically, demonstrating a commitment to green and sustainable initiatives.

"Conny and Dražen demonstrate that sometimes a small effort is enough to ignite significant change. Their dedication and personal time have brought us together today to commence a project that, we hope, will endure long-term and engage our entire community along with our visitors.

Poreč has consistently led the way in green and sustainable initiatives within Istria—from eco-friendly public transport and street lighting to annual tree planting, as well as water purification and coastal protection efforts. I am confident that this project will be highly successful and represent a critical component in our continued efforts to develop Poreč as a green, eco-friendly, and sustainable town," stated Mayor Loris Peršurić of Poreč.

Reintegration of Red Squirrels at Pical

Special emphasis is placed on Pical, an area that was once home to a large number of red squirrels, but now they are no longer present. Activities are planned to repopulate this area with red squirrels, including monitoring and studying their behavior and needs in the new environment. This includes the construction of an enclosure for the "soft release" method, where the squirrels will stay for a few months before returning to the wild. The Zoo of the City of Zagreb will provide support in this endeavor.

The importance of this project, especially for the Pical area, was also recognized by Valamar, which decided to support it.

"Valamar implements and supports numerous projects and initiatives aimed at preserving the environment and biodiversity. We take care of 80,000 trees, we support local food producers who make up about 78% of our procurement, we carry out beach and underwater cleaning campaigns, and near our facilities, we also set up hotels for insects, small dwellings that help various insects survive the cold period and find a habitat in a warmer part of the year. We are particularly pleased to participate in this project, and we believe that together with our partners we will achieve the common goal of restoring this beautiful species and thus contribute to the biological diversity of Istria," said Ivana Budin Arhanić, a member of the Valamar Board.

Conny Peto Đeneš highlighted the need to motivate veterinarians and competent authorities to open a rehab center for wild animals that will provide shelter and care for injured and sick wild animals as a key element of the project.

"The rehabilitation center should be equipped to rehabilitate animals and release them back into nature, and it can also serve as an educational center for citizens and visitors. This is an important point of the project because currently, in Istria, there is not a single recovery center, nor a shelter for wild animals—mammals and birds. Dr. med.vet Ingeborg Bata, head of the professional veterinary service of the Zagreb Zoo, founder and head of the Croatian Wildlife Care Center, and president of AWAP—Association for the Protection of Wild Animals, will assist us with her experience and advice," she said.

The Zoo of the City of Zagreb stated that they are ready to support the project with expert advice, transferring their knowledge and experience related to nutrition, maintenance, reproduction, veterinary care, and rehabilitation of red squirrels, help with their transport and consultations on educational programs and interpretation techniques. "We aim to contribute to the preservation of a healthy and robust population of red squirrels in Poreč and its surroundings," they concluded.

Bim, Bum, and Bam Sparked It All

This entire endeavor began last summer with three baby squirrels—Bim, Bum, and Bam—discovered by residents at the Home for the Elderly and Infirm in Poreč. Initially, Nataša Basanić Čuš, the director of the Healthy Town of Poreč, took them in, followed by Conny and Dražen, who cared for them for two months before they were transferred to the Zoo in Zagreb.

"The Town of Poreč and the Healthy Town of Poreč have long been committed to animal protection activities. Personally, I've rescued many animals over the years, though these were my first squirrels. They stayed with me for a week, fed via syringe. After seeing they had survived three days, we handed them over to Conny and Dražen," shared Basanić Čuš.

Silvia Buttignoni from Natura Histrica expressed her pleasure that Poreč embraced this initiative, noting that her institution would support the project by providing food for the squirrels. This project builds upon similar ones aimed at bird conservation that Natura Histrica has already been implementing.

Conny and Dražen extended their gratitude to the citizens of Poreč for their unwavering support, as well as to social network users from Croatia and beyond whose donations funded the initial purchase of shelters and feeders. Special acknowledgment goes to Dean Maršić, a local resident of the Home for the Elderly and Infirm, whose discovery of the squirrels catalyzed this remarkable project.

Further thanks are due to Stefan Spangl and Charles Wells from Austria for donating the first bespoke shelters, and to Silva Servatzy from the SOS Paws Poreč Association.

"Our heartfelt appreciation goes out to the Poreč Public Fire Department, whose firefighters assisted in cleaning and refilling water stations for wildlife. Alan Račić deserves thanks as well, for installing the shelters high in the trees," they added.

Appreciation was also expressed to the Vet Center and AVA FIZIO VET clinics for their help with injured and ill woodland creatures. A special mention was made of the staff at the Poreč Veterinary Hospital, led by Branko Jurić, M.Sc., MD.Vet., for their vital support in rescuing Bim, Bum, and Bam. Marko Jugovac of Stolarija Labinci was recognized for crafting a secure enclosure where the young squirrels could safely grow.

Lastly, thanks were extended to Dijana Beneta, M.Sc., a zoologist and mammal curator at the Zagreb Zoo, who has been instrumental in supporting the project and providing invaluable assistance with the three joyful squirrels from Poreč now in Zagreb care.

Source Town of Poreč: https://www.porec.hr/prva.aspx?stranica=99629&j=CRO