On the occasion of World Snake Day, the Macedonian Ecological Society invites the public to a free screening of the documentary Europe: One Continent, Five Worlds, which will take place on 17 July (Friday) in the courtyard of the Macedonian Cinematheque in Skopje, starting at 8:30 p.m.
The screening features the first of six episodes of the documentary series Europe - the first production of its kind dedicated to showcasing the natural wonders of the European continent and one of the most ambitious wildlife documentary series ever made. Produced by Light and Shadow TV, the series was filmed over more than 1,000 days across nearly 30 countries and 50 different locations. One of these locations is Golem Grad, the largest natural island in North Macedonia.
Hidden in the middle of Lake Prespa, Golem Grad is one of Europe's most important natural sites for snake research and is popularly known as "Snake Island." Although it is most commonly associated with the nose-horned viper (Vipera ammodytes), whose stable population of around 200–300 adult individuals represents the highest population density of this species anywhere in the world, the island's true emblem is the dice snake (Natrix tessellata). Around twenty years ago, its population on the island was estimated at approximately 25,000 individuals, but today it has declined to just over 5,000, primarily due to climate-related and human-induced factors.
It is this remarkable dice snake that the film crew follows throughout the documentary. The production team was accompanied by Dragan Arsovski, a herpetologist at the Macedonian Ecological Society. Following the screening, he will share insights from the filming process, as well as from the long-term amphibian and reptile research that our team has been continuously conducting on Golem Grad.
The screening is organized to mark World Snake Day, established in 2013 to raise public awareness of the vital role snakes play in ecosystems. There are approximately 3,600 snake species worldwide, 16 of which can be found in North Macedonia. Despite their remarkable diversity and adaptability, many snake species face growing threats from habitat loss caused by human activities and climate change. The film will be screened with Macedonian subtitles, is suitable for children, and admission is free.
The screening is organized as part of the project "PrespaNET III – Biodiversity Conservation in Transboundary Prespa", supported by the Prespa-Ohrid Nature Trust (PONT), the Aage V. Jensen Foundation, and EuroNatur.
