Wildlife
Croatia's wildlife is surprisingly diverse:
On Land
- Brown Bears: About 1,000 specimens in the Dinarides. Gorski Kotar and the forests around the Plitvice Lakes are their main habitat. Sightings are rare — bears avoid humans.
- Lynxes: About 40-60 Eurasian lynxes, strictly protected. Risnjak (name means "Lynx Place") is their main habitat.
- Wolves: About 200 in the mountains. Strictly protected since 1995.
- Griffon Vultures: One of the last colonies in Europe on the island of Cres. The rescue center in Beli takes care of injured animals. Wingspan up to 2.8 m!
In the Sea
- Dolphins: The bottlenose dolphin population around Lošinj is one of the best-studied in the world. Dolphin-watching tours from Mali Lošinj (Blue World Institute). About 180 animals.
- Monk Seals: Extremely rare, but there are occasional sightings in remote caves.
- Loggerhead Turtles: Nest on some beaches. Risk of injury from boats and nets.
Beware: Sea Urchins!
Black sea urchins (Diadema) inhabit almost all rocky and pebble beaches. Their spines break off in the skin and are excruciatingly painful. Water shoes are therefore not a fashion faux pas on the Croatian coast but a necessity!
Achtung
Sea urchins are found on almost all rocky beaches in Croatia. ALWAYS wear water shoes in the water! If you do step on one: Do NOT remove the spines yourself — apply olive oil or vinegar and see a doctor.