Floods Force Olm Relocation to New Velebit Cave Sanctuary

The news in Croatian

1. špilja  (f.)
   prirodna šupljina ili prostor ispod zemlje ili u stijeni ↩︎
2. zaštita  (f.)
   čuvanje nekoga ili nečega od opasnosti ili štete ↩︎
3. čovječji
   koji se odnosi na čovjeka ili ima osobine slične čovjeku ↩︎
4. rijedak
   koji se malo pojavljuje ili postoji u malom broju ↩︎
5. podzemni
   koji se nalazi ili odvija ispod površine zemlje ↩︎
6. govoriti
   prenositi informacije ili značenje riječima ili znakovima ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: How long can the olm live?

Question 2: Why is the olm considered important?

Vocabulary

Croatian	English
špilja  (f.)	cave
zaštita  (f.)	protection
čovječji	human
rijedak	rare
podzemni	underground
govoriti	to tell

Read the full story

A rescue and recovery facility for olms — the rare cave-dwelling creatures also known in Croatian as čovječja ribica (“human fish”) — has been established at the Cerovac Caves on southern Velebit, after flooding drove a number of the animals to the surface.

The olm is one of the best-known underground animals of the Dinaric karst region and is a strictly protected species. It is adapted to life in complete darkness and is highly sensitive to changes in its environment, making it an important indicator of the health of underground water systems.

Experts note that protecting the olm’s habitat carries broader significance. Conserving the species is described not only as a matter of protecting a rare animal, but also as a reminder of the importance of clean, stable, and preserved underground water.

The Cerovac Caves are the largest tourist cave complex in Croatia, located on the slopes of southern Velebit on the north-eastern side of the hill of Crnopac, within the protected area of Velebit Nature Park. The nearest town is Gračac, four kilometres away.

The average temperature inside the caves is around seven degrees Celsius. Two caves are open to tourists — the Upper and Lower Cerovac Cave, each approximately 700 metres long. A guided tour of both takes around three hours in total.

The olm is a notably long-lived animal. It can live for more than 70 years, and thanks to its slow metabolism, it is capable of surviving without food for several years.