In years gone by, the European pond turtel was caught in large numbers as it was a popular meal to enjoy during Lent. The reptile, which can reach an age of up to 60 years old, is under serious threat today. The Donau-Auen National Park is making an important contribution to saving the species from extinction thanks to the research carried out as well as improvement of the habitat conditions and the protection of their clutch of eggs.

The kingfisher is referred to as a “flying gem” because of its colour and shape. However, stream regulation and water pollution have caused a sharp fall in the population. The Danube Wetlands host the largest Austrian breeding grounds and therefore offer the best conditions for spotting the distinctive bird.

The long-lost dog-fish was rediscovered in the National Park area in 1992. The species, which is currently threatened with extinction, takes its name from it’s characteristic swimming style: the alternating movement of the large pectoral fins resembles the swimming motion of a dog.

The black poplar appears as a riverside tree in the lowlands of large rivers and is one of the few tree crops, which can populate gravel banks. The trees, which can reach the ripe age of 300 years and develop bizarre, great habits, are important breeding grounds for large nest builders, such as black storks and white-tailed eagles. This is important as these are on the red list of endangered species in Austria.

The water soldier was once represented in large numbers in the swamps of the Marchfeld plain, but now you can only spot it in a few oxbow lakes of the Danube. As a result of stream regulations, the plant, which even in bloom protrudes no more than half way above the water, has been suppressed in many places. Today the species is threatened with extinction.

The Siberian iris dominates the face of the Danube wet meadows when in bloom in May and June. As it only grows at sites that are first mowed in late summer and are not fertilised, the species has now become seriously endangered.