Winter Sleepers in Protected Areas

Plitvice Lakes National Park boasts with 114 speleological objects, and some of them are so valuable that they have been additionally protected as nature monuments. One unusually important group of bioindicators finds refuge in these objects - bats. These night fliers play crucial roles in forest regeneration process; they pollinate numerous plants and disperse seeds, as well as control insect populations as the primary predators of night-flying insects.

Take advantage of the peaceful part of the year and explore the impressive natural world without crowds. Many species are now having their important winter break, including bats who are now hibernating in quiet places (like caves) where they hopefully won't be disturbed. They have begun the perid of torpor - a state of physical and mental inactivity that will last through the majority of winter.

Bats spend most of the winter hibernating; in order to conserve energy, bats must slow or shut down all vital functions - their heart beats only 6 - 10 times per minute, body temperature drops to only a few degrees above 0 °C, and they lower their metabolic rate, and immune system. It is of the outmost importance that hibernating bats are not disturbed, as well as maternity colonies in early-to-mid summer (depending on the species) when bats give birth and rear their young.

If possible, hire a professional guide to get a better picture of the importance and the sensitivity of caves.

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tel:+385(0)53 751-014
tel:+385(0)53 751-015