Croatia's Wildlife

AN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE GUIDE TO THE UNIQUE CROATIAN WILDLIFE

Croatia is a special country filled with amazing animals and plants. This is because it has many different types of land, like sandy beaches, tall mountains, thick forests, and big wetlands. These different areas help many kinds of animals live there, making Croatia an important place for wildlife in Europe.

About 40% of Croatia is covered by forests. These forests are home to cool animals like brown bears, wolves, and deer. They have lots of space to explore and find food. The Adriatic Sea is also very important for Croatia’s wildlife. It’s full of sea creatures! You can see dolphins jumping through the waves and many kinds of fish swimming around. The sea helps keep Croatia full of amazing animals.

Croatia’s National Animal

Did you know that the national animal of Croatia is the European pine marten? In Croatian, it’s called the kuna zlatica. This furry little animal is related to weasels, otters, and badgers. It has a long, slim body and a fluffy tail. Its fur is mostly brown with lighter patches on its throat and chest. European pine martens live in forests all over Europe and in some parts of the Middle East.

A long time ago, people in Croatia thought the pine marten’s soft fur was very special. That’s why you can find pictures and stories about it in Croatian art and history. Today, you might spot pine martens in places like Plitvice Lakes National Park or Papuk Nature Park.

Where to See Wild Animals in Croatia

Croatia has more than 400 protected natural areas, including eight national parks, 11 nature parks, and two reserves. These areas make up 9% of the total land in Croatia.

One of the coolest places in Croatia is Plitvice Lakes National Park. It’s located right in the middle of the country, and it’s famous for its pretty waterfalls and lakes. If you visit, you might see brown bears, lynxes, wildcats, wolves, owls, and even a rare bird called the capercaillie. You can also find many colorful butterflies flying around.

Another awesome place to see animals is Paklenica National Park. This park has a big river canyon near the Adriatic Sea. It’s perfect for birdwatching: More than 200 different kinds of birds live here! You might spot eagles, falcons, and hawks flying high above. There are also many butterflies and insects buzzing around.

Risnjak National Park is in the Gorski Kotar region, which has a lot of mountains. It’s a great place to see wild animals like deer, bears, wild boars, martens, badgers, and woodpeckers. The park is also famous for its lynxes, which once went extinct from this area but have been reintroduced from Slovenia.

The Most Dangerous Animals in Croatia

Croatia has some animals that you wouldn’t want to get too close to! One is the horned viper, a snake that lives in rocky places. Its bite can be very painful, so it’s good to be careful when hiking in places where these vipers might live. Another dangerous snake native to Croatia is the common European viper. It’s found in grassy and rocky areas. Its bite can cause swelling and pain, but seeing one is rare if you stay on safe paths. If you’re in Croatia and you get bitten by a snake, always go see a doctor right away: Some snakes’ venom can be deadly, and it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Croatia’s Endangered Animals

Croatia is home to many special animals, some of which are in danger of going extinct because of things like pollution, hunting, and climate change. The griffon vulture is a giant bird that lives on the island of Cres. It helps clean up nature by eating animals that have died. The olm is a strange-looking amphibian that lives in dark caves. It’s also called a “human fish” because of its pale skin and long body. Another rare animal in Croatia is the Mediterranean monk seal, one of the rarest sea creatures in the world. The European beaver is also in danger in Croatia, though its population has been growing because of human efforts to help the beavers survive. People are working hard to protect these animals so they don’t disappear forever.

The Largest Animal in Croatia

The largest animal in Croatia is the Eurasian brown bear. It lives mostly in the country’s forests and mountains. The Eurasian brown bear is an apex predator, meaning that it’s at the top of the food chain. These bears are very strong and help keep nature balanced by eating plants and smaller animals.

The Rarest Animal in Croatia

One of the rarest animals in Croatia is the Eurasian lynx. This wild cat is hard to spot because there aren’t many of them left. Its reddish-brown fur with dark spots helps it blend into the forest so that other animals can’t see it, which makes it easier for these lynxes to hunt and to avoid danger. There are only a few dozen Eurasian lynxes living in Croatia today.

Additional Resources

This page was last updated with help by Marco Permunian