The olm hatchlings born in Postojna Cave in 2016, famously known as the baby dragons, are celebrating their 10th anniversary on 30 May this year. What quickly became a global sensation a decade ago continues to attract visitors and media attention from around the world.
The story, which was covered at the time by BBC, CNN, National Geographic, The New York Times, The Guardian, and many others, still raises new scientific questions about the remarkable abilities and mysteries of one of Europe’s most fascinating underground creatures.
At Postojna Cave, a specialised cave laboratory was established in cooperation with researchers to enable the systematic study of the olm (Proteus anguinus). Today, 21 baby dragons are successfully developing there. The 2016 hatchlings represent an exceptionally rare scientific opportunity, allowing researchers to observe processes that would otherwise remain hidden deep underground.
The first olm was discovered in the Black Cave section of Postojna Cave in 1797.
Olms are born with eyes, which become covered by skin during the first years of life.
Their spotted skin patterns are unique, similar to human fingerprints, and glow yellowish under UV light.
The olm genome was decoded in 2019 by researchers from the University of Ljubljana, Aarhus University in Denmark, and China’s BGI Research Institute.
They are called “baby dragons” because people once believed they were the offspring of dragons living beneath Postojna Cave, a myth also recorded by Johann Weikhard von Valvasor in 1689.
Celebrating 10 Years of the Baby Dragons
To mark the 10th anniversary and inspire younger generations to learn more about olms, Postojna Cave launched a special social media campaign earlier this year, alongside a dedicated online platform titled “10 Years of the Famous Baby Dragons from Postojna Cave.” During the February school holidays, visitors could also take advantage of special family discounts for encounters with the olms in Postojna Cave and the Vivarium. Additional anniversary activities and surprises are expected throughout the year.
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