In Croatia, you’re always close to nature. You only have to take the family for an easy snorkel in shallow waters or hike around Gorski kotar to see creatures in their natural habitats. More adventurous divers can venture into deeper waters to discover rays, moray eels and octopuses. Casual visitors can observe dolphins, monk seals and turtles. Sharks have also been seen around Croatia, though not too often.
You needn’t even go to the zoo – although Zagreb has a particularly good one – to see more exotic beasts thanks to the curious island getaway of Veliki Brijun, near Pula.
As a land dependent on the beauty of its nature for tourism, Croatia has long been aware of the need to protect it. Visitors can also spend time at a dolphin sanctuary Lošinj and a protected area for griffon vultures on Cres. Here we suggest several places around Croatia where animal lovers can become more acquainted with all kinds of creatures, both native and exotic.
Aquatika
Not surprisingly, Croatia has many aquariums but only one is dedicated purely to freshwater fish. Croatia has more indigenous species than any other country in the continent of Europe, with over 150 living in its many rivers. In the historic city of Karlovac, Aquatika tells the story of them all, by way of exhibitions, huge tanks and fish on three floors. The upper levels correspond to the cold waters of river sources and the fish that dwell there. As you descend, you follow the paths of the rivers until, you arrive at the species who live at the river mouths, where the freshwater meets the sea. Tours, texts and info are presented in various languages, and the aquarium has won awards for its disabled access and for its architecture. Nearby, a beautifully constructed trail runs through nature, including a riverside beach which is one of the city's best spots for swimming. Branka Čavlovića Čavleka 1A, Karlovac. aquariumkarlovac.com
Beli Visitor & Rescue Centre for Griffon Vultures
The griffon vulture is a rare bird, indeed. In Italy, it is only found in Sardinia; in Greece, mainly on Crete. In the UK, the griffon vulture died out in the 1800s, although some birds have recently taken up residence on the island of Guernsey. The Beli Visitor & Rescue Centre on the island of Cres is therefore of particular importance. From its foundation, the centre has been running a volunteer programme, which runs every year between April and October, for a minimum of a week. They maintain two feeding grounds, help with sick and injured birds, restore dry-stone walls and help to manage the forest trails and eco-trails. The centre also serves the nature reserve and as a base for nature trails through Tramuntana. You can learn all about the griffon vulture at the information centre before you set off. Day visitors are also welcome all year round, with expert workshops also presented. All proceeds go towards the protection of these magnificent creatures. Beli, Cres. belivisitorcentre.eu
Blue Planet Diving
Based at a luxury hotel in Dubrovnik, Blue Planet lays on all kinds of dives for all ages and levels nearby. Among the many visits to reefs, coves and shipwrecks, one particular favourite is only a minute away from base. The caves beneath the Grebeni islands feature a long underwater passage partly lit from sunlight above through the clear waters, torchlight picking out octopuses, moray eels and scorpion fish, among others. The beauty of this dive is that novices can descend to three metres and still see various kinds of sea life, while more experienced divers can explore further, plunging down to 40 metres. Visibility is excellent and there are no currents. Masarykov put 20, Dubrovnik. blueplanet-diving.com
Marine Education Centre
A short walk from the bus station on the island of Veli Lošinj in Kvarner, the Marine Education Centre was set up by the Blue World Institute in 2003. The first of its kind in Croatia, the centre deals with the study and protection of sea life, attracting thousands of visitors, school groups, interns and volunteers. A visitor centre details and displays its activities, the most notable of which concerns the conservation of the nearby bottlenose dolphin colony. Staff and volunteers go out to observe the creatures up close as they skip through the Adriatic, while each July, the centre also lays on an annual Dolphin Day, focusing on these popular, playful mammals. Blue World also oversees a Sea Turtle Rescue Centre on the neighbouring island of Mali Lošinj, opened in 2013. Kaštel 24, Veli Lošinj. blue-world.org
Risnjak National Park
The most densely forested region in Croatia is one of soaring peaks, lush valleys and spectacular wildlife. Containing the Risnjak National Park, Gorski kotar attracts hikers, climbers, botanists and spelunkers, but also offers welcome respite from the busy coast only 15km away. The Risnjak massif that dominates the national park of the same name is named after the lynx (ris) that roam here, sharing 6,400 unspoiled hectares with brown bears, wild cats, chamois and eagles. Alpine snowbells, edelweiss and black vanilla orchids dot a karst landscape at this crossing point of coastal and continental climates. Four mountains stand at over 1,400 metres (4,600 feet), providing phenomenal views from the slopes. A well-marked footpath, with descriptions in English and Croatian, leads from the pretty village of Crni Lug, site of the Risnjak National Park office and main entrance, around the forest for 4.5km. From the same starting point, the more adventurous can set off on another, steeper trail up to the park’s highest point of Veliki Risnjak. np-risnjak.hr
Sokolarski Centre
A ten-minute drive from Šibenik in the village of Dubrava, the Sokolarski Centre is a visitor attraction and place of education. It’s also a rescue centre, set up by Emilio Mendjušić, who has tapped into the centuries-old tradition of falconry. Here, hundreds of injured birds of prey are treated each year. By throwing this sanctuary open to the public, and gathering a team of some two dozen falconers, Mendjušić both funds his healing mission and allows visitors to observe first-hand the tricks and training needed to master the noble art of falconry. The centre is open right up to November and then from March, usually welcoming groups of schoolchildren during the autumn and early spring, and tourists during the summer season. Visitors may spend the day here or sign up for a course to learn more about ornithology and bird protection. Škugori, Šibenik. sokolarskicentar.com
Veliki Brijun
Many head over to Veliki Brijun, the largest of the Brijuni archipelago, easily reached by a 15-minute boat hop from Fažana near Pula, for its large safari park. Across nine hectares of rolling land, llamas, sacred Indian cows and even zebras roam, as well as Lanka the elephant, a gift from India in 1972. Ostriches and peacocks – including the white albino variety – strut around the bird sanctuary near the entrance. Within the safari park is also an ethno park for creatures from the local region, such as Istrian sheep and goats. But that’s not all that you can see of the animal world on Veliki Brijun, for near the coast, outlined on maps posted around the island, are footprints of the dinosaurs that walked here around 120 million years ago. np-brijuni.hr/en
Zagreb Zoo
Set in Maksimir Park, Zagreb Zoo is Croatia’s largest, opened back in 1925 and thoroughly modernised in 2016. Nearly 8,000 animals call the zoo home, including rarities such as amur and snow leopards, red-necked wallabies from Australia and black howler monkeys from South America. Feeding times are posted up for the seals, sea lions and otters, so that you can time your visit around them. The zoo also runs several outreach protection programmes, including monitoring the migration of white storks, observing the development of female Balkan terrapins in Dubrovnik-Neretva County and analysing the diet of the ruin lizard on Lastovo island. All of these initiatives are documented and displayed at the zoo. Maksimirski perivoj, Zagreb. zoo.hr
This article is sponsored by The Croatian National Tourist Board: 'Croatia Full of Life'.
