News archive

NATURE PROTECTION DAY IN CROATIA AND INTERNATIONAL DAY OF BIODIVERSITY - MAKSIMIR 20 th May 2012

NATURE PROTECTION DAY IN CROATIA AND INTERNATIONAL DAY OF BIODIVERSITY

- MAKSIMIR 20 th May 2012 from 11:00 till 17:00

Read more » | 15.05.2012.

Workshop on identification of signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus)

Read more » | 28.03.2012.

IUCN Membership of State Institute for Nature Protection

At its 78th meeting held in Gland from 12-14 February 2012, the IUCN Council approved the admission of the State Institute for Nature Protection as a Member of the Union.

Read more » | 28.02.2012.

2nd International Symposium on „Anchialine Ecosystems“

Read more » | 06.01.2012.

Poster - Snakes of Croatia

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Read more » | 27.04.2011.

Beaver rescue in Sv. Helena

Read more » | 07.12.2010.

Orsini’s viper Vipera ursinii macrops Mehely, 1911

Orsini's viper is Europe's smallest venomous snake. Lika all venomous snakes, it produces venom, though its activity is very weak and the consequences of a bite are similar to a bee or wasp sting. This snake does not need to make any stonger venom, as it typically feeds on insects (crickets and grasshoppers), which it immediately begins to swallow after biting. In this case, the venom serves only to accelerate digestion of the prey once swallowed. Adults also feed on lizards and small mammals (field mouse, field vole, shrews).

Read more » | 01.12.2010.

Species of the month -OLM, Proteus anguinus (Linnaeus, 1766)

The olm is a tailed amphibian that inhabits flowing and standing waters in the underground karst caves that are rich in aquatic invertebrates that make up its diet. It never leaves these underground waters on its own, though occasionally high waters will bring them up to the surface following heavy rains or snow melt. It is unknown whether or not they can again find their way back into the caves.

Read more » | 01.11.2010.

European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus (Linnaeus, 1766))

The European ground squirrel is a small rodent from the squirrel family (Sciuridae) that lives underground in a network of tunnels that it digs. Its closest relatives are the squirrels, which instead live in the tree crowns and thus have stronger legs and a bushier tale to help them in climbing and jumping. The European ground squirrel has very strong fingers and long nails, an elongated body and a very small tail, all to help it dig and to ensure that it can easily pass through the narrow underground corridors.

Read more » | 01.10.2010.

7th ENCA meeting (European Network of Heads of Nature Conservation Agencies), National park Mljet

State Institute for Nature Protection is hosting the 7th ENCA meeting (European Network of Heads of Nature Conservation Agencies). The meeting took place in National Park Mljet from 4th-7th September 2010. Apart from the host, the meeting included participation of directors of agencies and institutes for nature protection from the following countries: Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Czech Republic, Spain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Great Britain, Slovenia and EC representative. Meeting's main topic was conservation of marine biodiversity, emphasizing marine protected areas and the NATURA 2000 network, as well as sustainable fishery in the context of ENCA's contribution to this problematic.

http://encanet.eu/home

Read more » | 07.09.2010.

Species of the month – COMMON BENT-WING BAT (Miniopterus schreibersii)

The common bent-wing bat (Miniopterus schreibersii), also called the Schreiber's long-fingered bat and the Schreiber's bat, is one of 35 bat species living in Croatia. Bats are known as the only mammals that can actively fly, thanks to the skin stretched out between the four extended fingers to the shoulders and between the legs. Despite the old wives' tale that bats can get tangled up in one's hair, the facts are quite different. Namely, the bat is able to precisely find its way around, even in complete darkness, thanks to echolocation - a means of orientation in space using sound. Bats release sound signals through their mouth and nose that bounce off of prey or other objects and are relayed back to the bat's ears. The sounds they release have a high frequency and cannot be heard by the human ear.

Read more » | 01.09.2010.

Species of the month - Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus)

The Mediterranean monk seal belongs to the order of pinnipeds (Pinnipedia), seal family (Phocidae), genus monk seals (Monachus). In Croatia, this seal is also called the sea man, sea bear and sea monk. It was first scientifically described in 1779 based on a carcass found at Osor on the Island of Cres.The male Mediterranean monk seal can grow to a length of 2.5 m and weight up to 300 kg. They are usually black with which spots on the belly. Females are somewhat smaller than males and are usually greyish in colour.

Read more » | 01.08.2010.

Red coral (Corallium rubrum)

Red coral (Corallium rubrum) belongs to the sea fans and is a typical species of the Mediterranean Sea. It grows at depths from 5 to 200 metres. In the Adriatic, it is primarily found on the outer edge of islands facing the open sea and in areas where annual changes in temperature and salinity are small. The coral grows from 4 to 8 mm per year.

Read more » | 01.07.2010.

Italian agile frog (Rana latastei)

ITALIAN AGILE FROG - Rana latastei - Masked defender of the Istrian woods
The Italian agile frog is a brown frog that is a poorly known representative of Croatia's amphibian fauna. Due to its endangerment, it deserves our full attention.

In Croatia, this species is found only in central and northern Istria, and the largest population inhabits the Motovun Forest and Mirna River Valley and the right tributaries to the Mirna River (Čepić, Zrin, Sluznica). It is also found in southwestern Slovenia, Italy north of the Po River, and in Switzerland in only a few areas along the border with Italy (about 10 km2 area).

Read more » | 01.06.2010.