5th International SOS Proteus Conference, December 7-8, 2024, Kranj, Slovenia

Upon the 30th anniversary of the taxonomic description of black proteus (Proteus anguinus parkelj), and 38 years since its discovery by Prof. Andrej Mihevc (1952–2024), Tular Cave Laboratory, in partnership with City of Kranj and Tourism and Culture Organisation Kranj, was organizing the 5th International conference “SOS Proteus” – PROTEUS AND ITS KARST GROUNDWATER HABITAT: RESEARCH METHODS AND DATA TO ASSESS ITS CONSERVATION STATUS

83 participants from 14 countries (Belgium, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Iran, Italy, Romania, Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, United Kingdom and USA) presented 33 studies on the latest trends, methods and findings about this endangered species at the 5th International SOS Proteus Conference over two days. The meeting of researchers and conservationists working on proteus is organized every two years by our Tular Cave Laboratory (member of LifeWatch Slovenia consortium), one of only two such laboratories in the world, which has been operating in Kranj since 1960.

The SOS Proteus is a biennial meeting where scientists, researchers and conservationists share their knowledge and encourage multidisciplinary international scientific cooperation in the field of proteus research and conservation, as well as the involvement of the public and local communities in the preservation of healthy drinking water resources. The conference was supported by the City of Kranj, the Kranj Tourism and Culture Board and the Kranj Water and Utility Company, and sponsored by the companies PILEUS, environmental solutions and CULMIUM, development of advanced technologies.