Rewilding Velebit in 2025: A Year of Wildlife Comeback, Community, and Hope

In 2025, the Velebit Mountains of Croatia took decisive steps toward becoming one of Europe’s most connected and resilient rewilding landscapes. Thanks to the partnership between Augmentum and Rewilding Europe, this year marked real progress on the ground bringing wildlife back, restoring natural processes, and strengthening the bond between nature and local communities .

Restoring Wildlife and Natural Balance

A major focus of the year was rebuilding trophic chains—the natural relationships between predators, prey, and habitats. Thirty-four red deer were reintroduced across Velebit and neighbouring hunting grounds, helping restore a key prey species and support healthier ecosystems. Some animals were fitted with GPS collars, allowing conservationists to follow their movements and better understand how wildlife uses the landscape.

Another milestone was the completion of a Griffon vulture feeding site overlooking the Adriatic Sea. This carefully designed site supports the return of this iconic scavenger to mainland Velebit, addressing food scarcity, the species’ biggest threat, and opening new opportunities for research and responsible wildlife watching.

Monitoring efforts expanded dramatically, now covering more than 70,000 hectares using camera traps, thermal imaging, and bioacoustic devices. These tools not only improve ecological knowledge but also help detect illegal activities such as poaching, offering wildlife better protection.

Living with Wildlife, Not Against It

Rewilding is not just about animals, it’s about people. In 2025, the Velebit Wildlife Community program was finalised, supporting villages in becoming models of human–wildlife coexistence. Practical measures like electric fences, bear-proof waste bins, road-safety reflectors, and community workshops helped reduce conflicts while building trust and shared responsibility.

Two villages, Brušane and Baške Oštarije, began their journey toward becoming the first Wildlife-Smart Communities in Velebit, places where nature conservation, local identity, and livelihoods go hand in hand.

Bringing Back Natural Grazing

Natural grazing is essential for open habitats and biodiversity. Work continued in the Lika Plains to secure legal recognition of Tauros cattle as a distinct breed for nature restoration. Careful herd management, scientific monitoring, and behavioural studies showed that these animals retain natural anti-predator instincts, an important step toward treating them as part of Europe’s wild fauna.

At the same time, preparations advanced for the reintroduction of European bison, planned for 2026. Knowledge exchanges in Spain helped ensure that future translocations will meet the highest standards of animal welfare and ecological care.

Protecting Forests for the Long Term

Velebit’s forests are a powerful ally in the fight against climate change. In 2025, detailed ecological and climate analyses identified at least 6,500 hectares of forest that could be excluded from logging and left to natural development. These forests store millions of tons of carbon and provide irreplaceable habitat for wildlife such as lynx and bears.

The team also worked closely with forestry professionals and national institutions to improve logging criteria, reduce unnecessary tree removal, and promote more nature-positive forest management practices across Croatia.

Rewilding the Sea

Rewilding efforts expanded from mountains to the Adriatic Sea. Around Dolin Island and nearby islets, marine habitats were mapped and threats assessed, laying the foundation for future Marine Protected Areas. Special attention was given to Posidonia seagrass meadows and to the only remaining Croatian nesting site of the critically endangered lesser kestrel.

Workshops with national and regional authorities showed strong support for marine rewilding, setting the stage for expanded protection, eco-moorings, and no-take zones in the coming years.

Nature-Based Economies and Sustainable Tourism

Rewilding Velebit also invested in nature-based livelihoods. New wildlife-watching hides, some designed for overnight stays, were completed, and Velebit experiences were launched on the Wilder Places platform. From wildlife safaris to stargazing and cycling, these initiatives show how conservation can support local businesses while keeping nature at the centre.

A feasibility study for a future safari-style lodge in the Lika Plains further explored how tourism can fund long-term conservation without compromising wild values.

Inspiring the Next Generation

Education and engagement remained at the heart of the work. More than 1,000 children have now taken part in the beloved “When I Grow Up, I Want to Be a Wildlife Ranger” workshops. New programs reached hunters, gifted youth, photographers, and volunteers.

In a creative first for the rewilding movement, Croatia’s first rewilding song and music video was released, reaching tens of thousands of people and bringing the message of nature recovery into popular culture.

Looking Ahead

2025 showed that rewilding Velebit is no longer a vision, it is a living, growing reality. With wildlife returning, communities engaged, forests and seas better protected, and sustainable economies emerging, Velebit is becoming a powerful example of how people and nature can thrive together.

As the work continues into 2026 and beyond, the message is clear: when we give nature space and support, it responds, with resilience, beauty, and hope.