Rewilding efforts are supporting the return of wildlife in the stunning Velebit Mountains of Croatia. A range of exciting tourism experiences are offering growing numbers of visitors the chance to witness this comeback first-hand — and give back to nature and local communities.
A recent survey found that most hunters in Croatia’s Velebit Mountains share many of the goals and views of the Rewilding Velebit team. With hunting deeply embedded in local culture, this alignment underscores the importance of collaborating with local hunting associations to scale up rewilding.
From schoolchildren and students to beekeepers and everyday citizens, the Rewilding Velebit team is building engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, amplifying support for their nature recovery efforts.
The recovery of nature in Croatia’s Velebit Mountains is enabling an economic shift from hunting to wildlife watching. By putting cameras in the hands of local students, and enabling them to connect with their natural environment, a recent photography workshop highlighted the social benefits of this transition.
Geological conditions mean surface water has always been relatively scarce in Croatia’s Velebit Mountains. Changes in land use and climate are now making it even scarcer. This blog by Rewilding Velebit Communications Officer Kruno Bošnjaković explains how the local rewilding team are helping Velebit wildlife by providing reliable and safe sources of water across the landscape.
Kruno Bošnjaković, a communications officer attached to the Rewilding Velebit team, outlines the extensive measures taken to reach out to stakeholders in 2023. Connecting people of all backgrounds with the majestic nature of Velebit will inspire them to want to protect and enhance it.
A herd of 10 red deer have just been released in the Velebit Mountains rewilding landscape in Croatia. As part of an ongoing restocking programme, the release will help to restore the population across the landscape to a more healthy level, with benefits for wild nature and local communities.
Rewilding efforts are supporting wildlife comeback in the stunning Velebit Mountains of Croatia. With the abundance of iconic species such as brown bears increasing in the landscape, the local rewilding team are taking steps to ensure communities can live alongside wildlife and benefit economically from its recovery.
Today, rewilding in the Velebit Mountains of Croatia is going from strength to strength. By showcasing the landscape, its wildlife and local rewilding efforts, the new Rewilding Velebit website should prove an effective tool for outreach and upscaling.
“A New Path for the Velebit Mountains”, an enthralling 15-minute documentary by Emmanuel Rondeau, tells the story of rewilding in this beautiful part of Croatia. At the end of March, a premiere in the local town of Gospić drew a large and diverse audience.