The fauna of Plitvice Lakes National Park is incredibly rich, thanks to an exceptional level of conservation and habitat diversity. Due to its geographical location and pristine nature, Plitvice Lakes National Park offers a sanctuary for many animal species. This great diversity of Plitvice Lakes National Park ensures the development and survival of local animal species, many of which are considered endangered and rare around the world.
The Plitvice Lakes are more than a natural phenomenon, they are a true preserve of life, where forest and aquatic ecosystems provide the ideal environment for various animal species to thrive. Habitat conservation is crucial for the benefit of future generations and for the preservation of Croatian natural heritage. The presence of large carnivores, as well as other globally protected endangered species, ensures the quality and conservation status of these habitats.
Croatia is among the few European countries that still have three large carnivores: bears, wolves and lynx. All three species live in Plitvice Lakes National Park. The park covers a surface of just under 300 km2, its water bodies are slightly less than 1% of the total surface of the park. Plitvice Lakes National Park covers a large area, and the visitor zone and the deep forest inhabited by large carnivores do not overlap: visitors cannot run into one of these animals. A special place within the park ecosystem is reserved for four large carnivores which are described further in the text.
Brown bear (Ursus arctos)
According to scientific classification, brown bears are carnivores, belonging to the family Ursidae and the genus Ursus. The brown bear is a strictly protected species and the largest land carnivore. Bears are covered in thick brown fur and undercoat. Thanks to their adaptive feeding habits, brown bears are not an endangered species – their opportunism plays an important role in their own survival. In winter, when food is scarce, the bear will hibernate or remain dormant, and in autumn it will prepare for hibernation by accumulating body fat (up to 30%) and building a store.
In Plitvice Lakes National Park, bears have been systematically monitored for many years, and it has been established that about 30 bears claim the park as part of their range. Like other wild animals, the brown bear has no idea of boundaries, it comes to the park and goes as it pleases. Due to the important role of the brown bear in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem, it has become the symbol of Plitvice Lakes National Park.
Gray wolf (Canis lupus)
The gray wolf is a carnivore of the order Carnivora, family Canidae, and genus Canis. It is an endangered species and has strictly protected species status in Croatia. The park is a natural wolf habitat thanks to the dense forests, mountainous terrain and vast territory that gives these animals plenty of roaming and hunting space. Wolves feed mostly on wild game such as deer, wild boar and small mammals. In Plitvice Lakes National Park, wolves live, and their presence is important for the entire ecosystem: they keep the prey population in balance.
Wolf research in the park includes capturing individual animals, processing data, taking blood samples for genetic analysis, and conducting health assessments. The captive wolf was then fitted with a collar with a GPS transmitter, allowing the researchers to track the entire pack for a year. After one year, the collar is automatically released through a drop-off system. Wolves are territorial animals and will defend their ranges, which is why it is virtually impossible for different packs to overlap their territories. Considering the surface area of the park is smaller than the area generally used by wolf packs, it is clear that the park area is shared by several wolf packs, whose range also covers areas outside the park.
Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx)
The lynx is the largest carnivore belonging to the family Felidae, subfamily Felina, genus Felis, and subgenus Lynx. In Croatia, the lynx is a strictly protected species. The presence of lynx indicates a very well-preserved habitat. The lynx is an accomplished climber and an ambush hunter. Its spotted fur helps it blend in with its surroundings as it stalks in prayer, adding up to a successful hunt. Lynx feeds on birds, amphibians and small mammals. A total of 26 individual animals have been recorded in Plitvice Lakes National Park, although their presence is not constant. Each year, the park area is used by 7 to 9 different animals, depending on their migration activity and territorial behavior.
Everything you need to plan your trip in 2024
Otter (Lutra lutra)
Preserved aquatic habitats provide the perfect home for the otter, a carnivore in the weasel family. The otter is a semi-aquatic animal, meaning it lives in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. It belongs to the Carnivora order and the Mustelidae family. Lutra lutra, also known as the Eurasian otter, is the only otter species that lives on the European continent. There are many well-studied signs of this species, which is extinct or nearly extinct in many parts of the continent. It is not easy to find an otter in the wild, but if you are lucky, you may see it swimming in a lake, usually hunting for prey.
The otter is active at night, and when it senses danger, it disappears into its burrow in dense vegetation or on the shore. It is the largest predator in aquatic ecosystems, eating mostly fish, but also amphibians, crustaceans, birds, small mammals and aquatic insects. There are about 30 individual otters in Plitvice Lakes National Park. The presence of otters at various locations is tracked using camera traps. Otter research in the park includes collecting saliva and faecal samples and performing genetic analysis of individual otters. In addition, two otters were fitted with telemetry transmitters and their movements were tracked via GPS.
The presence of large carnivores, the brown bear (Ursus arctos), the gray wolf (Canis lupus), the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) and the otter (Lutra lutra), all of which are strictly protected species and globally endangered, ensures the quality and level of natural habitat conservation. . Forest habitats provide ideal conditions for brown bears, gray wolves, and Eurasian lynx to thrive, and pristine aquatic habitats are ideal refuges for otters. All of these species prefer quiet and secluded areas with plenty of food, shelter and protected areas to raise their young. Habitat diversity and richness are key to maintaining fauna diversity and richness. Healthy habitat, where plants and mushrooms can enjoy ideal growing conditions and animals can find food and shelter, is one of the main features of Plitvice Lakes National Park, making it a valuable sanctuary for many species.
Did you enjoy this article?
Get similar content straight to your inbox.
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to submit the form
