When a group of animals is separated from others of their kind for a very long time — perhaps because they live in an isolated lake — they slowly change and become a new species. This is what happened to the Ohrid trout. It is closely related to other trout found across Europe, but after millions of years in Lake Ohrid it has become its own special fish with its own colours, habits, and favourite foods.
The trout likes the deep, cold, clear water near the bottom of the lake where it hunts smaller fish and tiny shrimp. It is known for being a very strong swimmer and a clever hunter. Fishermen have caught Ohrid trout for thousands of years, and the fish was once so popular that it became a symbol of the region, appearing on old coins and postcards.
Today the Ohrid trout is protected by law because too much fishing in the past made its numbers drop. Scientists are working hard to study it and help its population grow. Children in Ohrid grow up learning to appreciate it as a living treasure — a creature that has been swimming in their lake since long before humans first arrived.