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Animals of Oltenia
Reptiles of Romania
Tortoise
Adrian writes:
Friends, it is unbelievable how these animals have no feeling of danger so far as cars are concerned. They cross roads in the middle of the day, putting them at great risk.
Another wild animal was saved by NGO Alexis Project, and placed in a natural safe area. We are also a 'saving animals team'!
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 24th May 2015
Tortoise
Adrian was passing through Radovan forest when he saw, in the middle of the road, a confuses 'Suzana', about to become the victim of a car accident!
He rescued her, and placed her in his car.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 17th May 2015
Adrian then took her to Craiova and next day released her under safe conditions on the left bank of the Jiu River, in the forest near Bralostita village.
It seems that 'Suzana' is now starting a new life!
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 17th May 2015
Salamander
A small salamander was saved by Adrian and Alexandru in a dry, hot area close to the small river in Vogna valley.
It is now safe and happy in the river, and let us hope that it will be more careful next time!
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 21st August 2014
Romanian Grass Snake
Searching through the deep forests beside the Jiu River, in a place called Balta de la Unitatea Militara, not far from Gura Motrului village, Mehedinti County, Adrian found a small but lively Grass Snake, who had just made a huge meal.
After a few pictures, Adrian let him free, to continue to look for food!
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe, 16th June 2014
See also:
The Romanian Grass Snake
Alina and Adrian were in the Vogna area to continue cleaning the floor of the ghost church from there. Because it was cold weather, even with the sun out, this Balkan Green Lizard was unable to escape until Adrian got a good photo of it!
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 27th March 2011, Goiesti area.
The Balkan Green Lizard (Lacerta trilineata) is a species of lizard in the Lacertidae family. It is found in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, and Turkey. Its natural habitats are Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, sandy shores, arable land, pastureland, plantations, and rural gardens. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 27th March 2011, Goiesti area.
Text: Wikipedia
Even though it is early spring in the Bodaesti area, near Filiasi town, over the hills, a few animals are starting to leave their winter residences, under a cool sun.
However there is still snow, and cold nights, and for some animals, as for this lizard, the conditions are so harsh as to trap the unwary when they come out of their winter haunts too early.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 13th March 2011, Bodaesti area.
The European wall lizard, Podarcis muralis, is a small lizard whose scales are highly variable in colour and pattern.
It is a little bit unusual in that it has a pronounced green colour, whereas most are shades of brown.
They are common, and grow to about 15 cm to 20 cm long, of which more than half is tail.
They can live for seven years, and eat insects and other invertebrates, and are themselves hunted by snakes.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 2nd May 2010, Radovan area.
Text: Wikipedia
The European Green Lizard (Lacerta viridis) is a large lizard distributed across mid European latitudes from the north of the Iberian peninsula to as far east as the Ukraine. It is often to be seen sunning itself on rocks or lawns, or sheltering amongst bushes.
The lizard reaches up to 40 cm in length from the tip of the muzzle to the cloaca. The tail can be up to twice the length of the body. This lizard sheds its tail, to evade the grasp of a predator.
Males have a larger head and a uniform green colouring punctuated with small spots that are more pronounced upon its back. The throat is bluish in the adult males and to a lesser extent in the females.
The female is more slender than the male and has a more uniform coloration, often displaying between two and four light bands bordered by black spots.
It feeds on insects, small lizards and even mice. In springtime the female lays 6 to 20 eggs. About 2 to 3 months later brown-coloured young appear with a length of 3-4 cm.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 2nd May 2010, Radovan area.
Text: Wikipedia
A small tortoise in a pond in the main park of Ramnicu Valcea, probably the European pond terrapin (also called the European pond turtle or European pond tortoise).
From Wikipedia:
Emys orbicularis is a turtle found in southern and central Europe, West Asia and North Africa. It lives in and around slow-flowing water and hibernates for up to seven months of the year at the bottom of the water. Its shell is brown with a hint of green, spotted yellow.
Photo: Adrian Gheorghe 22nd April 2008
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RC J/263/230/2007 CIF 21464151
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