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Dalmatians saved! 

30-11-2004: The third largest colony of Dalmatian Pelicans in Europe breeds on Ceaplace Island , Lake Sinoie , in the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve ( Romania ). Threatened by water erosion, the island lost 75% of its former size in the last two years . To protect the island from erosion, SOR started a fundraising campaign this summer in order to build a protective wall aimed to increase the surface of the island and provide protection against direct effects of the waves and ice.

Our calls were heard and we received the necessary funds from Disney W ildlife Conservation Fund, The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and a generous person from USA , Suzanne Barnhart.

The protective wall was built in November. The project coordinator, Balint N. Miklos (SOR Conservation Assistent), was helped by a team of 7 local people and a representative of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Authority, engineer Bahaciu Nicolae. Despite the bad weather (the frequent storms and the low temperatures of 7-8C°) the team succeeded in accomplishing their mission.

The island has been preserved. The third largest colony of Dalmatian Pelicans in Europe have a protected breeding site and, according to our estimates, the island may recover its lost ground as sediment accumulates.

We want to express our gratitude for the effort of all organisations and people that gave a helping hand to save these pelicans. Many thanks to Disney W ildlife Conservation Fund, The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Authority (ARBDD), the Governor of ARBDD - Virgil Munteanu, our colleagues from BirdLife - Richard Thomas and Nick Langley, the engineer Bahaciu Nicolae, our colleague from RSPB - Mark Day and our supporter from USA - Suzanne Barnhart.

For more information, e-mail the project co-ordinator Balint N. Miklos office@sor.ro

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