Fruška Lokva on the island of Rab nearly dried up completely due to exceptionally unfavourable weather conditions. Prolonged summer heat and the resulting drought over recent days and weeks have severely impacted the local wildlife, creating a critical situation in the area.
The lack of water in the natural habitat led to alarming scenes, with animals forced to abandon their usual territories in a desperate search for moisture. This state of affairs posed a serious threat to the survival of the island's fauna, requiring urgent intervention by the relevant authorities.
Firefighters from Rab and Lopare were immediately deployed to coordinate the rescue operation. Their task was not only to provide an immediate water supply but also to prepare the pond for future water retention to prevent rapid re-evaporation.
The first phase of the intervention involved thoroughly cleaning the pond bed to remove debris and ensure the water was hygienically safe for the animals. Once the pond was prepared, the filling operation commenced.
Firefighters managed to fill Fruška Lokva with a total of 42,000 litres of water as part of the operation. This volume should allow the animals to recover from exposure to extreme temperatures and provide them with basic survival conditions until natural precipitation improves.
