Logatec, Slovenia – The global speleological community is mourning the loss of Andrej Mihevc, a highly respected karstologist, speleologist, and geographer, who passed away at the age of 72.
Mihevc, born in 1952 in Logatec, Slovenia, was a pivotal figure in the study and exploration of caves and karst landscapes.
He passed away in October 2024, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to influence the fields of speleology and karstology for years to come.
Andrej’s love for caves began early, and by 1968, he became an active member of the Logatec Caving Society.
His career was marked by countless expeditions in Slovenia and abroad, with notable discoveries including the identification of unroofed caves and the first black Proteus anguinus parkelj.
His research not only contributed to the scientific understanding of caves but also their geological, archeological, and environmental significance.
Mihevc played a significant role in the international speleological community, serving as Adjunct Secretary of the International Union of Speleology (UIS) from 2001 to 2009.
His efforts were instrumental in the registration of the UIS as an international organization in Slovenia in 2002.
Tributes have poured in from colleagues and institutions around the world.
The National Caves Association in the USA expressed their condolences, and Grupo Espeleológico Niphargus in Spain remembered him as “a good speleologist and an even better person.”
He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.