Every week The Slovak Spectator brings you a selection of three short stories from across Slovakia from which pessimism and negativity are absent.
They were once close to extinction, but Slovakia's bustards are back
Great bustards, with Bratislava visible in the background. (source: Courtesy of SOS/BirdLife Slovensko)
You are more likely to meet a giant bustard in and around Slovakia's capital than in any place on earth. The area near Bratislava has the highest recorded density of great bustards globally, with 580 observed in January and 597 recently counted in nearby Austria, published daily SME.
Once nearly extinct in Slovakia, the species has rebounded due to habitat restoration efforts. This year saw the highest nesting numbers in decades, with 10 to 12 females.
Despite progress, the species remains vulnerable due to its limited range and challenges in managing habitats and visitor impact. Continued conservation efforts are essential to secure its future.
Slovakia has a four-time world champion
Athletic skill, dexterity and bulging muscles helped Slovak competitor Michal Barbier secure his fourth Men's Fitness World Championship in Japan earlier this month. The competition brought together ten top athletes from seven countries, each demonstrating exceptional skill and dedication.
The Slovak representative faced tough opposition, finishing fourth in the posing segment. "Luckily I managed to pull off an acrobatic move that moved me up to first place after the points were totalled," Barbier stated in a Facebook post.
He acknowledged the assistance of the Slovak Federation of Bodybuilding, Fitness, and Powerlifting for his opportunity to compete on the world stage.
A run in Trebišov on Christmas Eve brought together more than 400 people
More than 400 people came together in the town of Trebišov, eastern Slovakia, on Christmas Eve to enjoy a festive run. Participants sped through the town's historic park, embracing the holiday atmosphere and community spirit.
In front of Trebišov Cultural Centre, a Christmas market provided some cover from the biting wind. Despite the challenging conditions, the participants in the event were uniformly enthusiastic.
The Christmas run marked the finale of a series of five annual races held in the town, with plans to expand this to ten events next year. The races are charity affairs, and proceeds from the Christmas run are traditionally donated to support a local dog shelter.
Five feel-good stories published by The Slovak Spectator to read:
Building on previous success, the Slovak space industry is taking off.
The heart-warming story behind the tradition of public Christmas trees in Czechoslovakia.
Slovak Paradise's Piecky Gorge is now open to tourists after extensive reconstruction.
Read about some fun ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve 2024 in Bratislava.
Slovak computer scientist Mária Bieliková took the main prize at this year’s ESET Science Award.
Meme of the week
Caption: Food prices in Slovakia before Christmas are such that:
This meme, published by the satirists at Zomri on their Facebook page, highlights the growing number of food item that, because of rising prices, shops are having to protect with security tags to prevent pilfering.
Under a tax rise passed by the Smer-Hlas-SNS coalition, the basic rate of VAT will rise in Slovakia from 20 percent to 23 percent on most products and services on January 1, 2025. However, VAT on most food products will fall slightly, to 19 percent, and for a very limited range of basic foodstuffs will drop to 5 percent.
You can send me your tips on good news stories about Slovakia or funny memes at: kseniia.husieva@spectator.sk. Thank you!
