> Kindergartens and primary school, associated to the LIFE Charcos Project, celebrated Carnival this year with fantasies related to temporary ponds’ animals of that exist in this region
The animals of Mediterranean Temporary Ponds served as inspiration for many students from kindergarten to primary school of S. Teotónio in Odemira.
On February the 5th, 2016, when schools held their carnival parade, children from kindergartens in S. Teotónio, Cavaleiro and primary school of Zambujeira do Mar proudly paraded the costumes made by them with the collaboration of educators, parents and guardians. There were frogs, tortoises, viperine water snake, shrimp-fairy, Cabrera’s vole, storks, bats and many other animals in the streets of these three locations on the Alentejo Coast. 
This school community has chosen, this year, to celebrate the Carnival highlighting a threatened habitat, as is the case of temporary ponds and the unique species that depend on this habitat to survive. These fantasies were thus a way of showing the importance of conserving this natural heritage that is so special.
These three Carnival’ parades served not only for enjoyment but also to raise awareness of nature conservation. Local people and the students themselves became more informed and aware of the nature conservation in general and for the conservation of temporary ponds in particular.
