Environment Minister Sofjan Jaupaj on Tuesday highlighted the park’s ecological value, noting that it stretches along the Karaburun peninsula and Sazan Island, featuring caves, canyons and clear waters.

The park hosts rich marine biodiversity, including rare and protected species such as the Mediterranean monk seal, dolphins and sea turtles, making it one of the country’s most important marine habitats.

The Environment Minister said the Karaburun–Sazan Marine Park is a “natural treasure” of special importance for biodiversity conservation and the development of sustainable tourism.

The area is Albania’s first and only marine protected zone and is home to 36 species of international conservation importance, including several listed as threatened.

The rocky coastline offers striking scenery, particularly when viewed from boats visiting caves, canyons and small bays such as Haxhi Ali Cave and Duk Gjoni Cave.

Underwater landscapes are also notable for their ecological and visual value, featuring rock formations, underwater caves and marine flora and fauna, with some sites also containing archaeological remains.

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This bird is classified globally an endangered species due to a dramatic decline in numbers over the last centuries that has led to the extinction of the species from the European continent.

The individual equipped with satellite tracker was born in an Austrian zoo in 2014 and grew up there. Therefore, this individual is not bothered by the presence of people and can even stay very close to them in urban and rural areas by being exposed to various risks.

After getting informed yesterday by our International partners for the presence of a tagged-individual of northern bald ibis in Albania, PPNEA visited the site in order to observe this individual and to contribute in its protection. This morning, a member of the “Birds of Albania” Association also joined his PPNEA colleagues to observe the bird and take some measures to protect it during its stay in our country.”

According to the association, this morning was avoided an attempt to kill the species by some local residents of the Kune-Vain area where the bird had stayed until a while ago.

In addition to PPNEA, the Administration of Protected Areas of Lezha region has also been mobilized to preserve this very rare individual.

The “Birds of Albania” Association called on all citizens who may happen to see this species very close to them or in their backyard not to disturb or harm it. /p.s./

The Association for the Preservation and Protection of the Natural Environment in Albania gave the news saying that out of 28 points taken in the study, otter presence was made evident in almost all of these points.

In addition to the monitoring method from the traces, food waste, etc., data were also collected from trap cameras installed.

Likewise, the frequent presence of otter feces near places where people carry out their activity such as fishing boats, is an indication that this species is peaceful and seeks to live in harmony. This study will be conducted again in the last year of the project.

Otter (Lutra lutra), is listed as a species at threat (NT) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and is listed in Annexes II and IV of the European Habitats Directive. /j.p/r.e/p.s./