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Istrian cattle at the edge of Unijsko polje, on the island of Unije (Walk 12)

Domesticated livestock includes large numbers of sheep and, in declining numbers since they are now little used to work the land, donkeys (the best place to see the latter is around Mir jezero on Dugi otok).

Reptiles and amphibians

Croatia’s rocky limestone landscape provides a superb habitat for reptiles, of which Croatia has 41 species (nine of them endemic), with the greatest concentration of these being on the Dalmatian coast and islands.

Croatia has an impressive number of snakes, most of them harmless. Venomous snakes are absent entirely from some of the islands (Lastovo, Mljet, Vis), and on those islands where they are found they are less common than on the mainland. Non-poisonous species include the Four-lined snake, one of the largest European snakes, although completely harmless and easily recognisable by the yellowish-brown stripes along its back; the Leopard snake, which has distinctive brownish-red, dark-edged markings; and Balkan, Western and Large whip snake.