AT THE NATIONAL VISITOR CENTER – AN EXHIBITION ON WILDLIFE
Protected areas are hosting a variety of events dedicated to Earth Day. On March 19, a photography exhibition on wildlife will open at the National Visitor Center for Protected Areas.
The exhibition will feature original photographs of wild animals by naturalist and scientist Dr. Vitalijus Stirkė, a researcher at the Nature Research Center.
“Nature has fascinated and drawn me in since childhood... This long-standing interest naturally evolved into the study of mammals, which today is not only my professional field but also my way of life. Being in nature and observing its life, I felt the need to capture these moments in photographs,” admits Vitalijus Stirkė.
The scientist aims for his photographs to reflect not only the image of the animal, but also the uniqueness of the moment and its inseparable connection to the natural environment. When looking at the image of a wild animal, one should feel empathy, reflect, and understand why it is important for various animal species to exist and why they need to be protected.
Working at the Mammal Ecology Laboratory of the Nature Research Center, Dr. Vitalijus Stirkė conducts research on Lithuanian mammals: he monitors species diversity, population dynamics, spatial distribution, interactions with the environment, and changes in endangered species.