Photos: 'Baby dragons' go on display in Slovenia

Three rare aquatic creatures known as 'baby dragons' take their bow in a Slovenian cave

Published: June 13, 2020 13:17 AFP and compiled by Balaram Menon, Digital Content Editor

1 of 14

Slithering through their subterranean aquarium, three "baby dragons" have gone on display in an aquarium at Slovenia's Postojna Cave, where they hatched in 2016 in a rare successful breeding. Pictured above: A young olm or proteus (Proteus anguinus) an aquatic salamander is seen in an aquarium in Postojna Cave. Image Credit: AFP

2 of 14

The cave-dwelling animals, officially called proteus or olms, have pale pink skin, no eyesight, a long thin body and four legs. They live only in the waters of dark caves of the southern European Karst region. Image Credit: AFP

3 of 14

Olms are ancient underwater predators, which can live up to 100 years and only breed once in a decade, are resistant to long-term starvation, an adaptation to its underground habitat. Rare occasion of egg hatching occurred in beginning of 2016 where 64 eggs were hatched. 21 young olms surrvived and are now slowly being released into an aquarium in the cave open for visitors. Image Credit: AFP

4 of 14

Only 30 visitors per day will be allowed to visit the so-called baby dragons - ancient underwater predators that can live up to 100 years and only breed once in a decade. Image Credit: AFP

5 of 14

Containers with young olms are seen in the makeshift laboratory in Postojna Cave. "We are proud to present three out of the 21 baby olms, the world-famous 'dragon's offspring', which we have kept a close eye on since 2016," the Postojna cave said in a statement. Image Credit: AFP

6 of 14

The three are among 21 offspring that hatched in 2016 when one of the olms at the cave lay around 60 eggs in one of the observation tanks. Image Credit: AFP

7 of 14

To ensure their survival and gather more information about the creatures, cave authorities kept them far from visitors in a cave laboratory as their "best kept and most carefully guarded secret" - until now. Image Credit: AFP

8 of 14

Reaching a maximum length of 35 centimetres, the blind animal with its four tiny limbs is a far cry from the scary monsters conjured up in national folklore. Image Credit: AFP

9 of 14

Sometimes also referred to as "human fish", the slim vertebrate sports three feathery gills on each side of its elongated snout. The body's sheer pink skin makes it easy to spot the internal organs. Image Credit: AFP

10 of 14

The protected eel-like species can go without food for up to a decade. Image Credit: AFP

11 of 14

Found primarily in Balkan cave rivers, the olms have been living in the world-famous Postojna cave, 50 kilometres southwest of the capital Ljubljana, for what researchers say is millions of years. Image Credit: AFP

12 of 14

The baby dragons' presentation comes only days after the cave - one of Europe's largest that usually draws 700,000 visitors a year - reopened its doors following three months of closure due to the coronavirus epidemic. Pictured above: Stalagmites, stalactites, and formations called curtains in the Postojna Cave. Image Credit: AFP

13 of 14

Biologist Katarina Kanduc overlooks the containers with young olms in a makeshift laboratory in an aquarium in Postojna Cave. Image Credit: AFP

14 of 14

Biologist Primoz Gnezda prepares to release a young olm into an aquarium. Image Credit: AFP

Photos News

Photos: 'Baby dragons' go on display in Slovenia

More From Photos

King Charles to resume some public duties during cancer treatment: Palace

British Airways is out to pick up some fast market share after re-launch of Abu Dhabi to London flights

Photos: Tensions rise as US pro-Palestinian student protests spread

Thousands of flights in Europe scrapped as French air traffic controllers strike

GULFNEWS SECTIONS

Trending

Photos: 'Baby dragons' go on display in Slovenia

More From Photos

King Charles to resume some public duties during cancer treatment: Palace

British Airways is out to pick up some fast market share after re-launch of Abu Dhabi to London flights

Photos: Tensions rise as US pro-Palestinian student protests spread

Thousands of flights in Europe scrapped as French air traffic controllers strike

GULFNEWS SECTIONS