Slovenia's Astonishing Baby Dragons

April 28, 2016 3:22 PM

What’s Behind Slovenia’s Love Affair with a Salamander?
posted by ChuraChura (9 comments total)

Hey, neat! We visited Postojna cave this fall, and maybe saw her.

We managed to leave the cave with a stuffed (plushie) version. (They would sell you all three sizes, at a discount! We---barely---managed to resist. It helped that there was a crazy rainstorm/snowstorm that day, so all the touristy shops closed early. )
posted by leahwrenn at 4:22 PM on April 28, 2016 [2 favorites]

Unicorn unavailable for comment.

Postojna is certifiably awesome, and the olms are super neato as well.
posted by Sticherbeast at 4:23 PM on April 28, 2016

It's interesting how the olm has been historically linked with the purity of the water it swims in, since it really is a good barometer of the health of that ecosystem.
posted by Kevin Street at 4:44 PM on April 28, 2016 [1 favorite]

That's cool. The sensory abilities are very interesting.
Why does the stream run stronger at 9 and midnight? I know that wasn't the point of the article but it made me curious.
posted by Clinging to the Wreckage at 6:01 PM on April 28, 2016

I am incapable of saying 'olm' without turning it into a theatrical mock yawn. That aside, I'm always glad when there's a cultural investment in humble, fragile, and weird creatures vs. the charismatic megafauna of the world.
posted by Fantods at 10:53 PM on April 28, 2016 [1 favorite]

So am I right in thinking that as a neotenic salamander this is effectively a European axolotl?
posted by Segundus at 11:33 PM on April 28, 2016

I'll be travelling through Slovenia about a month from now, and am super excited to visit the caves, and also this crazy castle in a cave. I didn't know about the olm babies, but it seems like an interesting time to visit. It'll be my first time in Slovenia... if anyone here is near that area and wants to hang out with a wandering Newfoundlander in early June, get in touch!
posted by oulipian at 5:10 AM on April 29, 2016 [3 favorites]

Predjama Castle was great. We visited it after Postojna. It'll probably be fine in June, but in November it was cold. Apparently they just had a big snowstorm last week (!), at least in Ljubljana. If you've got more time, we liked Škocjan cave better than Postojna. And you should visit Bled.
posted by leahwrenn at 6:18 AM on April 29, 2016 [2 favorites]

Seconding Škocjan cave. Right near the end, there's a huge cavern and a zig-zagging path with little lights that makes it look like you've stumbled into the mines of Moria or something. Though, unfortunately, there were no salamanders. Just interesting geological formations.
posted by delicious-luncheon at 6:44 AM on April 29, 2016 [1 favorite]