Our Projects: CROATIA

Together with veterinary faculty members of Zagreb University, we want to save the last 220 Adriatic dolphins from extinction.

They live year round in the waters off Croatia’s coastline. The most important aims include the establishment of sanctuaries, the foundation of a dolphin conservation center and public awareness raising activities.

The long-term and most important goal of GRD's project to "Save the Last Adriatic Dolphins" is the establishment of sanctuaries for the remaining population of bottlenose dolphins, estimated at about 220 individuals. The German-Croatian project is carried out under the auspices of the Croatian Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning within the framework of the Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area (ACCOBAMS), which was ratified by Croatia last year. Accordingly, further objects include the collection of data and management of interactions between humans and cetaceans, such as fishing, tourism, and marine pollution, the collection of data on strandings, measures to rescue cetaceans stranded alive, and awareness raising activities. Our partners are veterinarians from Zagreb University, headed by Prof. Hrvoje Gomercic.