Download May 22, 2013 Enel Romania celebrates the Biodiversity Day with a

Press release
Enel’s City of Energy project celebrates Biodiversity Day in Constanta
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Enel’s secondary station within the Dolphinarium complex in Constanta to be
painted with 6 endangered species of plants, birds and mammals from the
Dobrogea and Black Sea area
The secondary station turns into a painted encyclopedia that reveals details about
some of the area’s most precious and protected species, including a dolphin
variety met mainly on the Romanian coast of the Black Sea
The event is part of the “City of Energy” project that promotes the transformation
of the company’s secondary stations in Bucharest, Constanta and Timisoara
through unique artworks done by local artists
Constanta, May 22nd, 2013 – Enel Romania celebrates the Biodiversity Day with a
special activity, part of the City of Energy project. In partnership with the Constanta
Natural Science Museum, manager of the Dolphinarium complex, six endangered
species of plants, birds and mammals from Dobrogea and Black Sea area were selected
to be painted on the walls of a large Enel secondary station placed in the complex.
Visitors of the Dolphinarium complex will have the possibility to learn about some
precious and rare species and show children examples of plants, birds and mammals
that they have hardly seen before. Explanatory panels with info on each species’ current
status will be placed on the walls, turning Enel’s substation into a painted encyclopedia
of the six endangered species.
The event is an occasion to remind both adults and future generations about the fragility
of plants, birds and mammals, their role in the ecosystem and the need to protect them
in the present continuous industrialization era.
Mihai Comanescu (know as Boeme) is the local artist that will paint Enel’s secondary
station. The species selected together with biologists of the Constanta Natural Science
Museum are:
The steppe peony (Paeonia tenuifolia) is a rare, perennial herbal plant, which is
protected by law. The peony is small (10-30 cm, rarely 50 cm), and it blossoms starting
with the second half of April up until the first ten days of May.
Christ’s Thorn (Paliurus spina-christi) is a perennial plant, with deciduous leaves. It is
a shrub that can grow up to 3 m tall, with highly forked branches. Christ’s Thorn prefers
calcareous soils, and is often used as a decorative plant. It provides nectar and pollen
for bees in June and July. The plant’s name comes from the fact that each of its leaves
has two large, powerful spines near its base.
The mouflon (Ovis musimon) is a species of wild sheep. This animal once lived in
Romania, but went extinct at some unknown point in time, probably in the Middle Ages.
Mouflons originated from Southern Italy were reintroduced to Romania in the 1960s,
after several acclimation attempts. The animals adapted to the local environment,
thanks to the sub-Dobrogea marine-continental climate, but their numbers declined and
controlled breeding was necessary, due to the increase in predator populations, such as
jackals. There are currently about 600 half-wild animals living in Romania.
The common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) is the best known species
living in the Black Sea. These dolphins are most frequently found in the Romanian
coastal areas of Gura Portitei, as well as in the coastal area adjacent to the Techirghiol
lake. In spring, they tend to get very close to the shore in search of food, and
sometimes enter local harbors. The species has been protected since 1980, and faces
several threats, such as being accidentally caught in fishing gear, the diminishing supply
of fish which make up its food source, injuries from ship propellers, and sickness. The
dolphins’ habitat is also threatened by marine traffic, fishermen and pollution.
The Red-breasted Goose (Branta rufficolis) is one of the rarest species of wild geese
in the world, and is highly dependent on humid and agricultural areas. In the 1950s, a
large part of the Red-breasted Goose population which was spending the winter near
the Western coast of the Caspian Sea quickly changed its seasonal home to the Western
shores of the Black Sea. As such, 80-90% of the birds currently gather in JanuaryFebruary in 5-10 rest sites on the coast of the Black Sea. The species faces threats from
hunting and the disappearance of nesting, winter and rest sites, due to excessive
urbanization.
The Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus) is a massive aquatic bird, with heights that
can reach 160-180 cm. Its feathers are white, while the skin around its eyes and the
sack under its beak are bright orange. The pelican also has rebel feathers on its head,
reminiscent of a tuft. Its main habitat is the Danube Delta, from where it migrates in
winter to as far away as South Africa. It is a rare and vulnerable species, protected by
law. Its numbers do not currently exceed 500 breeding pairs in Europe, mainly due to
human intervention.
The Dolphinarium in Constanta began its activity on the 1st of June, 1972, being the first
center of this kind in Romania and the first one in the SE of Europe at that time. It is, in
the same time, the place where the training of all the three species of dolphins in the
Black Sea was possible for the first time in the world.
At the moment, the Dolphinarium in Constanta is the only place of this type in Romania
and it receives annually more than 22,000 visitors. The park of the Dolphinarium is one
of the most popular locations in Constanta, and hosts other attractions such as a
Planetarium and an exotic birds pavilion. Through the City of Energy project, Enel’s
substation in the complex transforms into another touristic and educational attraction of
the whole site.
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About Enel
Enel is Italy’s largest power company, and Europe’s second listed utility by
installed capacity. It is an integrated player, selling power and gas to more than 61
million customers. Enel operates in 40 countries worldwide, with a net installed capacity
of around 98,000 MW and approximately 74,000 employees.
Active on the Romanian market since 2005, Enel is currently the country’s
largest private investor in energy, with operations in power distribution and
supply as well as renewable energy production. The company has more than
4,000 employees and provides services to 2.7 million customers in three key areas of
the country: Muntenia Sud (including Bucharest), Banat and Dobrogea, accounting for
one third of the electricity distribution market in Romania. Enel is developing a
significant investment program aimed at securing a proper service to end users,
enhancing the quality and security of the network as well as complying with Enel’s
environmental standards.