Wildlife and bird watching in . 13-11-17 4:57 PM

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Home » World Wildlife » Europe » Wildlife and bird watching in Croatia. Wildlife and bird watching in Croatia.

Croatia isn’t somewhere that’s springs to mind when thinking of a IN THIS SECTION wildlife destination, but taker a second look. Despite being a small Wildlife Tour operators specializing in Europe country, Croatia ranks in the top half dozen countries in Europe in Iberian - Where terms of bio-diversity. Most visitors stick to the coast, which is to see them Bear and watching great as it leaves the interior in peace and quiet, and it is in the in Finland that the main wildlife attractions are to be found. Read Bear watching in the High Tatras mountains of about the Griffon vultures on Cres Island -Croatia Slovakia Show all... , wolves, bears and chamois are still to be found in reasonable numbers in the sparsely populated mountains, while the wetlands, rivers, hills and coastline provide the birdlife with a very diverse habitat. Griffon vultures, White storks, Dalmatian Pelican, Imperial Eagle, Little Grebe, Great Bittern, Purple Heron, Glossy Ibis and Eurasian Spoonbill should all be on your checklist here.

The coast is protected by nearly 1200 islands (hugely popular with sailors), the sea and reefs are teeming with a vast array of fish, and schools of dolphins are often seen by yacht crews. Croatia has eight National Parks, ten Nature Parks and two Nature Reserves, as well as over 400 other protected areas totalling approximately 10% of the country.

Risnjak National Park is a haven for wildlife, and home to a growing number of Lynx, in fact Ris is Croatian for Lynx. Europe’s only “big cat” was nearly extinct here in the mid seventies, but numbers have increased significantly since then. Brown bears are also found in this rugged massif in the north east of Croatia.

Plitvice Lakes National Park is probably Croatia’s best known; a wild area of forests, lakes, rugged hills and caves isperfect territory.

Krka National Park, (pronounced with difficulty) contains most of the river basin, two thirds of which is in a deep canyon, before flowing into the sea at Sibenik. In contrast to the waterfalls and lakes of the river, the surrounding countryside is a semi arid desert!

Velebit Nature Park is the countries largest and is classified as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. The whole 150 kms long chain lies within the park, and is heavily forested. By contrast, the shoreline contained is mostly barren and rocky.

Kopacki Rit wetlands are a magnet for twitchers, and considered a globally important Ramsar site; they are also well known for their populations of deer, wild board and reptiles. The flood plains of , along the river , an extensive area of marsh and oak forest, and the Crna Mlaka “Fishponds” are also spectacularbirding areas.

Lake Vransko Nature Park contains the largest lake in Croatia, is another birding hotspot, and further south Nature Park provides the interior to the countries most popular coastline.

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