In their commitment to education and the conservation of endangered habitats in the Valencian Community, Caixa Popular and the BIOPARC Foundation, in collaboration with the Regional Ministry of Environment, Water, Infrastructure, and Territory, have reintroduced the "ofegabous." This initiative represents another success in the "Naturalization of Classrooms" initiative, in which three schools participated, caring for the gallipatos, a species classified as vulnerable to extinction, throughout the school year.
A lot of excitement after so many months paying all the attention to several dozen gallipatos (Pleurodeles waltl) who have seen their classes grow. This, along with enormous satisfaction, was the collective feeling of more than 150 schoolchildren from the fifth grade of the Sagrada Familia School (Valencia), the CEIP Pinedo (Pinedo) and the CEIP L'Almassil (Mislata) who have participated in the Second edition of 'Naturalization of the classrooms'The action promoted by Caixa Popular and the BIOPARC Foundation aims to Environmental education, as well as the cActive conservation of territories and recovery of endangered species in the Valencian Community.
Repopulation of gallipatos in their natural environment.
In coordination with the Ministry of the Environment, Water, Infrastructures and Territory To carry out an adequate repopulation, BIOPARC Valencia has specially designed facilities where the gallipatos have been born and, in this way, a reintroduction in an area especially important for the preservation of amphibians, the Balsa Blanca in the town of Enguera (Valencia).
In this place are found seven of the eight species of amphibians that live in the Valencian Community, so it is a a point especially relevant for its reproduction and recoveryIn this way, students have been able to learn about threatened habitats and endangered wildlife throughout the course and subsequently on-site.
En two consecutive days developed in this natural environment, have been carried out activities around the gallipatos by specialists BIOPARC Valencia: identification of amphibian species living in the wetland, a test of diseases these animals face, such as chytridiomycosis, and a fun "Griffon Moorhen Trivia." A Triops "release" has also taken place at a nearby location (Triops cancriformis), crustaceans considered “living fossils” because they have maintained a very similar external morphology for millions of years.
Caixa Popular and BIOPARC Foundation: gallipato conservation project.
From People's Bank y BIOPARC Foundation We want to highlight the relevance of the Collaboration between various organizations and institutions to promote knowledge of our local natural heritage and the protection of biodiversity. "At Caixa Popular, we are committed to environmental education and the conservation of our surroundings. Through initiatives such as 'Naturalizing Classrooms,' we bring young people closer to understanding and respecting biodiversity, awakening vocations and fostering sustainable values that contribute to a better future for all," he points out. Cristina Pérez, the entity's Social Responsibility technician.
For its part, Nuria Casla, the director of the BIOPARC Foundation He emphasized: “Our main mission is to break with indifference and raise awareness about the importance of balance in nature, so these initiatives that educate young people are of great importance to us and to the future of the planet.”
Thanks to the work of the animal care and education teams at BIOPARC ValenciaFrom their own schools, they have been able to learn more about the "ofegabous," as they are known in Valencian, and the challenges their ecosystem faces. Students have been able to observe the development and metamorphosis of these amphibians, such as the loss of gills, and have learned about the ecosystems they inhabit: the wetlands.
The “ofegabous” or gallipatos.
The gallipato is the only species of amphibian with a tail, or urodele, that exists in the Valencian Community, where its population is declining. It is found only in the Iberian Peninsula and Morocco and has been affected by pollution and the loss of its natural habitats, which is why it is included in the Atlas and Red Book of Amphibians and Reptiles of Spain.
This situation has increased the need to awaken the empathy of younger people towards Amphibians, the most threatened group of vertebrates on the planet, with 50% of species in danger of extinction. For this reason, the BIOPARC Foundation maintains its staunch defense of wetlands (the ecosystem that is home to 40% of all plants and animals) through strategic alliances such as the one established with Caixa Popular to carry out educational activities and special events, aligning with the World Wetlands Day 2025 theme: "Protect wetlands for our common future."
