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Game meat or venison, is the meat of killed large or small game intended for human consumption. Exceptionally, it may also be obtained by slaughtering certain species of intensively farmed game. The consumption of game meat in Croatia is significantly lower than that of meat from domestic animals. The aim of the paper is to determine the attitudes, preferences, and perceptions of consumers regarding the consumption of game meat in Croatia, by means of a questionnaire. A total of 845 respondents from all over Croatia were surveyed, of which 715 were hunters. Although game meat is available to most respondents (67.92%) on a daily basis, most (40.47%) consume it only occasionally and only a few (7.81%) once a week with meat products predominating, the most common being game salami (62.25%). Wild boar meat (33.42%) is the most consumed followed by rabbit (19.93%), pheasant (16.47%) and venison (13.56%), while other types of game meat are consumed by less than 7% of respondents in total. The majority of respondents (78.82%) were aware of the nutritional value of game meat, which is better than that of meat from the domestic animals, and they were not afraid of inadequate health of game meat. Nevertheless, the supply in the market is relatively weak, although the price is acceptable. As many as 85.33% of respondents think that the game meat is poorly marketed and weakly represented in the media. From the above facts, it can be concluded that it is necessary to increase marketing activities and raise citizens’ awareness of the nutritional, culinary, and health value of game meat in order to increase the consumption of game meat and improve its position in the market.

The rural area of Croatia is a biodiverse area with great potential for the development of various forms of tourism. Many forms of tourism have a great and diverse impact on society in the modern world as the human need for leisure and recreation grows with the development of the economy. Croatia is suitable for development of hunting tourism because it is extremely rich in agricultural areas, forests (43.5% of the total land area), rich stock of wild animals and it has geographic biodiversity. Hunters were mostly people of higher purchasing power, who wanted to enjoy the intact nature, watch and hunt animals, enjoy the gastronomic specialties prepared of the same game, and experience an until then undiscovered special tourist offer which differed from the usual ones. The aim of this paper was to identify the habits and preferences of hunters in eastern Croatia and to suggest better conditions and guidelines for the development of hunting tourism. Although respondents are satisfied with the supply of catches (M = 4.03) in eastern Croatia, the disadvantages are reflected in the organization of the hunt, high prices, insufficient promotional activities and inappropriate legislation. This paper gives suggestion and opportunities for hunting tourism development in order to achieve multifunctional rural development.

Agricultural production has increased more than three times over the last 50 years as a result of the expansion of soils for agricultural purposes, the technological contribution of the green revolution which influenced productivity and the accelerated population growth. In average, agriculture produces 23.7 million food tons per day worldwide. This increase in worldwide production has created serious pressure on the environment, up to the point of causing negative impacts on soil, air and water resources. This new situation has driven a need for more sustainable development in recent years, which implies important changes in the current agricultural production systems. Agriculture is one of the largest biological sectors with the highest biomass production, which becomes an essential input for the bioeconomy. This represents a great opportunity, not only because its use and exploitation contribute to the reduction of fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions, but also because it contributes to the development of new green markets and jobs by promoting the conversion of crop waste into value-added products (by- products), such as food, feed, bioproducts and bioenergy. Croatia is country with important role of tourism and agriculture in its development. East Croatia (five counties), as the most important crop production area produce the greatest share of cerals and industrial crops in Croatia. All those crops leave important amounts of after harvest residues even when biomass for soil protection, amounts for livestock and harvest losses are excluded. In 5 east Croatia counties in 2020 is produced 2, 389, 665.7 t of biomass technical potential. At the same time, municipal services companies in Croatia are very well organized and connected in Croatia. The paper will present model how municipal services companies can contribute to collect and produce byproducts as composts and substrates from an agricultural waste. This would increase business competitiveness of municipal services companies due to production and sales of new value-added products, opening new jobs and provide agricultural producers additional profit, safe disposal of agricultural waste as well as contribute to the rural development.

Natura 2000 is the ecological network of the European Union, established for conservation of threatened wild fauna and flora species and habitats. In the Republic of Croatia covers 36.7% of land area and consists of 783 areas ; 42 important for birds (SPAs) and 741 for species and habitat types (SCIs). Osijek-Baranja County is the regional self-government unit in eastern Croatia, consisting of 7 cities, 35 municipalities and 263 settlements, at the total land area of 4, 155 km2. Ecological network Natura 2000 covers 23.7% of the total surface and comprises 16 areas ; 3 SPAs and 13 SCIs. Management and protection of wild animal species that constantly inhabit or occasionally appear in urban and rural settlements is regulated by the Wild Animal Protection Programme. The completed procedure of the ecological network impact assessment is among the requirements for the approval of this 10-year valid document. Wild Animal Protection Programmes of 37 self-government units in Osijek-Baranja County had been analysed. Percentage of built-up and urbanised areas in the settlements ranged from 2.4% to 45.8%. Practice, measures and activities set up in the Programs will not have adverse or negative effects on continuity and conservation targets in Natura 2000 areas located within, bordering to, or at the significant distance from the cities and municipalities.

The primary legislative instrument in the field of nature conservation at the European Union level is established by the Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (The Habitats Directive), and Directive 2009/147/EC on the conservation of wild birds (The Birds Directive). Natura 2000 is a coherent ecological network composed of two types of protection areas: Sites of Special Importance (SCIs) under the Habitats Directive, and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) under the Birds Directive. Natura 2000 network in Croatia comprises 20, 755 km2 (37% of land territory), and includes 783 areas: 38 SPAs, and 745 SCIs. Ecological monitoring of habitats has been a widespread tool to record and assess changes in quality of target and priority habitat types, listed in Annex I of the Habitats Directive. The Danube River in part of its middle course flows throughout the Republic of Croatia, in length of 137.5 km. Fieldwork activities in habitat monitoring were done during 2020 and 2021 year, within three SCIs Natura 2000 areas, situated along the Danube River course: HR 2001309 Danube North of Kopački Rit ; HR 2000394 Kopački Rit, and HR 2000372 Danube-Vukovar. Total of 7 target habitat types had been surveyed, which are classified in following groups with designated codes: Freshwater habitats (3130, 3150, 3270), Natural and semi-natural grasslands (6250, 6440), and Forests (91E0, 91F0). Two habitats: 6250 and 91E0 belongs also to priority habitat types. Part of the ecological monitoring in the SCI HR 2000394 Kopački Rit, was done as activity of the project: “Demining, Restoration and Protection of Forest and Forestland in Protected and Natura 2000 Sites in Danube-Drava Regions – NATURAVITA”. This project is supported within the framework of the Operational Programme Competitiveness and Cohesion 2014-2020, and the European Regional Development Fund.

Prema Zakonu o lovstvu, lovište se ne može ustanoviti na površinama na kojima je aktom o proglašenju njihove namjene zabranjen lov. Divljač se na tim površinama izvan lovišta štiti i lovi u skladu s planskim aktom pod nazivom Program zaštite divljači, kojega za razdoblje od 10 godina donosi pravna ili fizička osoba koja upravlja, uz odobrenje Ministarstva poljoprivrede. Posebni zoološki rezervat „Kopački rit“ (Rezervat), najstarije zaštićeno područje u Kopačkom ritu (od 1967. godine), nalazi se u južnom dijelu Parka prirode „Kopački rit“ (proglašenog 1999.) kojim upravlja Javna ustanova „Park prirode Kopački rit“. Rezervat je područje na kojem se ne ustanovljuje lovište, ali zbog iznimno povoljnih stanišnih čimbenika ovdje stalno ili povremeno obitava određeni broj divljači te pojedinih ostalih životinjskih vrsta. Fakultet agrobiohtehničkih znanosti Osijek izradio je Program zaštite divljači za Posebni zoološki rezervat „Kopački rit“ (Program) za razdoblje od 1. travnja 2019. do 31. ožujka 2029. godine. Program je namijenjen definiranju stanja na području Rezervata, vrsta i broja divljači i ostalih životinjskih vrsta koje obitavaju stalno ili se, povremeno ili privremeno, zadržavaju na području Rezervata. U procesu izrade Programa, sukladno Zakonu o zaštiti prirode, proveden je postupak Prethodne ocjene prihvatljivosti Programa za ekološku mrežu. Ministarstvo zaštite okoliša i energetike donijelo je 3. prosinca 2019. rješenje da zahvati i aktivnosti planirani Programom, uz pridržavanje važećih zakonskih propisa, neće imati mogući ili značajni negativni utjecaj na ciljeve očuvanja i cjelovitost područja ekološke mreže. Nakon što je Povjerenstvo koje je imenovalo Ministarstvo poljoprivrede pregledalo Program, isto je ministarstvo donijelo 9. prosinca 2019. suglasnost na Program, čime je ispunjen uvjet za početak njegove primjene. Određeni broj vrsta divljači, ali i drugih životinjskih vrsta obitava ili se povremeno pojavljuje u Rezervatu. Pojedine vrste divljači i druge životinjske vrste nisu poželjne u Rezervatu zbog opasnosti od ugrožavanja prometa, ljudskih života i imovine, materijalnih šteta, kao i šteta na divljači i ostalim životinjskim vrstama. Neke od aktivnosti planiranih Programom su: promatranje i prebrojavanje, praćenje zdravstvenog stanja, provedba mjera liječenja, uklanjanje lešina, spašavanje od elementarnih nepogoda. Programom nisu planirane mjere smanjivanja brojnosti jedinki divljači, osim u iznimnim i zakonski propisanim okolnostima. Provedba svih zahvata, aktivnosti i mjera provodi se u koordinaciji sa službama i zaposlenicima Javne ustanove „Park prirode Kopački rit“.

The Aljmaš floodplain is situated on the right bank of the Drava River, along the last 12 km of the river course before confluence with the Danube River. The total surface area is 26 km2. Together with Kopački Rit Nature Park it makes a unique floodplain ecosystem of the Middle Danube. The Aljmaš floodplain is an integral part of two Natura 2000 areas in Croatia: SPA HR1000016 Podunavlje i donje Podravlje, and SCI HR2000372 Dunav-Vukovar. The Drava River in its lower course forms meanders, side arms, ponds and canals, which provides habitats for wild fauna and flora species, most of which are threatened or listed in the EU Directives on habitats and birds. Revitalisation activities in the Aljmaš floodplain were carried out in the period 2013-2021. Selected canals were deepened and sediment was removed from the old riverbed with an aim to re-establish the water flow and improve the overall ecological status. The monitoring activities of wild fauna and flora species and habitats were carried out during four-year period, from 2018 to 2021. The monitoring identified 16 habitat types, and four habitats are listed in Annex 1 of the EU Habitat Directive. The vascular flora comprises 75 species (2 ferns, and 73 angiosperms), and 13 invasive alien plant species were recorded. The faunal diversity comprises 17 freshwater fish species, 13 amphibian species, 10 reptile species, 65 bird species (21 wetland birds), and 52 mammal species. Among the vertebrate species listed in Annex 2 of the EU Habitat Directive, there are three freshwater fish, one amphibian and one reptile species. Among the recorded bird species, 20 are listed in Annex 1 of the EU Birds Directive. The presented monitoring activities had been supported by Hrvatske vode, a legal entity for water management in the Republic of Croatia.

The aim of this study was to investigate differences in meat quality parameters of animals hunted by two conventionally used methods: dog- driven hunting and selective/individual hunting. For this purpose meat samples from 21 animals were collected and technological meat quality traits (pH, CIE L*, a*, b*, drip loss, cooking loss, defrosting loss, Warner-Bratzler Shear Force) were determined in the laboratory. The results of the study showed that the hunting method influences drip loss, cooking loss and instrumental tenderness, indicating that dog- driven hunting is more stressful for the animal and can cause serious deterioration of different meat quality traits

A total of 131 blood samples and 175 spleen samples were collected from three cervid species: roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), red deer (Cervus elaphus) and fallow deer (Dama dama) inhabiting the continental part of Croatia. Serum samples were tested for antibodies against bovine herpesvirus 1, parainfluenza-3 virus, bluetongue virus, bovine respiratory syncytial virus, hepatitis E virus, bovine viral diarrhoea virus and enzootic bovine leukosis virus. The tested sera were negative for bovine viral diarrhoea virus, enzootic bovine leukosis virus, bluetongue virus, bovine respiratory syncytial virus and hepatitis E virus antybodies. The antibody prevalence in roe deer and red deer samples was 21.11% for bovine herpesvirus 1 and 75.55% for parainfluenza-3 virus. Sera from bovine herpesvirus 1 positive animals were subsequenty tested with comparative virus neutralization test and bovine herpesvirus 1 neutralising antibodies were found in 18 (out of 19) sera. In fallow deer, no antibodies against any of the viral pathogens were detected. All spleen samples tested for bovine viral diarrhoea virus and enzootic bovine leukosis virus came back negative, except for one red deer spleen sample found to be weakly diarrhoea virus-positive. Our findings provide the first information on the exposure of Croatia-inhabiting cervid species to viral pathogens, and could serve as valuable baseline data for future investigations regarding deer exposure to various pathogens and the distribution of diseases shared between wildlife and livestock. As of now, the epidemiology of these viruses in the Croatian cervid population has been only poorly understood, so that further research is recommended.

Hard ticks (Acari, Ixodidae), as the blood- feeding ectoparasites of wild and domesticated mammals, birds and reptiles, are known as a vector of many viral and bacterial pathogens that also affects human health. Climate changes modify seasonality in life cycle of hard ticks and cause the shift of their climatic niche in Europe, related to latitudinal and altitudinal range. The Eurasian Wild Boar (Sus scrofa L.) as the most widespread game species in Croatia can maintain tick populations. Tick sampling was done from wild boars, hunter-harvested in four hunting grounds: Spacva, Nova Gradiska, Vocin and Slunj. Total of 118 specimens were collected from 18 infested wild boars. The most abundant species was Dermacentor reticulatus (91%), followed by Ixodes ricinus (7%) and Ixodes hexagonus (2%). The largest number of collected ticks was in adult stage (97%), and 3%in the nymphal stage. An average infestation rate was 7 ticks per individual. The results of survey contribute to predicting the health risk of tick- borne diseases in Croatia.

Metali su prirodno prisutni u okolišu, ne razgrađuju se, već kruže u prirodi u različitim oksidacijskim i kemijskim oblicima. Antropogeni procesi (urbanizacija, industrijalizacija, promet, poljoprivreda) dovode do povećanja koncentracija teških metala u okolišu. Zbog štetnog utjecaja na zdravlje ljudi, životinja i biljaka, sve više raste zabrinutost zbog povećanja njihovih prisutnosti u okolišu. Posebno su opasni toksični teški metali (As, Cd, Hg i Pb) koji negativno utječu na organizme i izazivaju pojavu bolesti. Kroz hranidbene lance teški metali se prenose s niže na višu hranidbenu razinu i bioakumuliraju se u određenim tkivima. Za provođenje biomonitoringa posebno su korisne divlje životinje koje se hrane prirodnom hranom i zato pružaju najbolje informacije o zagađenosti staništa. Vrste koje su široko rasprostranjene, visokih brojnosti populacija, vjerne staništu te koriste mali životni prostor, poput zeca, pokazale su se najbolje za biomonitoring. U radu se pregledom dostupne literature stavlja naglasak na zeca kao bioindikatora onečišćenja okoliša teškim metalima. Za provođenje biomonitoringa te kao organi za analizu te procjenu zagađenosti najčešće se koriste jetra i bubreg zeca. Literaturni podaci upućuju da zečevi koji obitavaju na zagađenom staništu imaju više koncentracije teških metala u tkivima nego oni s referentnog staništa. Arsen se akumulira najviše u noktima i kosi čovjeka, Cd u bubregu, Hg u mozgu i bubrezima, Pb u mozgu i dijafragmi. Starenjem jedinke povećavaju se koncentracije Cd i Hg u jetri i bubregu zeca, ali ne i Pb. Meso zeca je u većini zemalja sigurno za ljudsku prehranu, dok se korištenje iznutrica ne preporuča.

Primarna zadaća lova, osiguravanje čovjekove egzistencije, danas je gotovo zanemariva, a sve više jača gospodarski značaj te rekreacijski boravak u prirodi. Lovci kao nositelji lovnih aktivnosti brinu za očuvanje biljnog i životinjskog eko sustava, a istovremeno kroz lovni turizam i trofejni odstrjel nastoje ostvariti dodatne prihode i ekonomsku korist, kako za lovačku, tako i za širu društvenu zajednicu. Cilj rada je pokazati postojanje resursa za razvoj lovnog turizma u istočnoj Hrvatskoj. Primjenom matematičkog modela eksponencijalne funkcije na podatke o broju stranih lovaca turista u Osječkobaranjskoj županiji i analizom financijskog izvješća Hrvatskih šuma, Uprave šuma Osijek u proteklom razdoblju uočava se mogućnost razvoja lovstva u istočnoj Hrvatskoj.

Natura 2000 is a coherent ecological network of protected sites that stretches across all 28 EU countries, both on land and at sea. The ecological network of the Republic of Croatia comprising 20, 704 km2 (37% of the land territory), and includes 779 areas: 741 significant for conservation of wild species and natural habitats, and 38 significant for conservation of wild bird species. Field activities of the floristic inventory and mapping the spatial distribution of dry habitats along the course of the Danube River in Croatia were carried out from June 2017 to September 2018, within four Natura 2000 areas: HR2001309 Danube North of Kopački rit, HR2000372 Danube-Vukovar, HR2001501 Steppic habitats near Opatovac, and HR2001500 Steppic habitats near Bapska. The surveyed dry habitats are characterised as xeric grassland vegetation included in Annex I of the EU Habitat Directive under the habitat codes: 6240 Sub-pannonic stepic grassland from vegetation alliance Festucion valesiacae and 6250 Pannonic loess steppic grasslands from alliance Artemisio- Kochion. Based on the records from the literature sources and results of fieldwork, it was determined that flora of surveyed dry grasslands comprises 188 vascular plant taxa, and 40 taxa are specific with their ecological requirements and distribution range. Allochthonous flora was represented with eight taxa, three of which (Ailanthus altissima, Robinia pseudacacia, Solidago canadensis) are invasive alien species. The Red Book of the Vascular Flora of Croatia includes 14 taxa, classified into categories: critically endangered (Agropyron cristatum ssp. pectinatum, Digitalis lanata, Reseda inodora), endangered (Salvia nemorosa, Xeranthemum annuum), vulnerable (Orchis ustulata), near threatened (Aegilops cylindrica, Carex praecox) and data deficient (Melica altissima, Melica transsilvanica, Nonea pulla, Euphorbia seguieriana, Sanguisorba officinalis, Stipa capillata). Today, dry habitats in the Croatian Danube region are just remnants of the natural steppic grassland vegetation. The cause is the strong anthropogenic impact over time, primarily the conversion of the grassland into arable land and vineyards, habitat degradation and natural succession processes. Knowledge on floristic diversity and distribution of dry habitats contributes to planning of the conservation and restoration measures in the surveyed Natura 2000 areas.

Golden jackal is a canid species currently distributed throughout the Southeastern, Central and Northern Europe. Serbian population has been growing rapidly since the early 1980s. Previous research was done solely on neutral markers and the results indicated lower genetic variability of the Serbian population. Given the jackals recent expansion, it is important to investigate variability of the adaptive loci in order to explore population’s potential for adaptation. Genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are one of the most polymorphic coding regions of the vertebrate genome. The role of MHC genes is to encode receptors responsible for presentation of antigens to T lymphocytes, which is crucial for specific immune response. DNA was extracted from 36 individuals that were legally shot in northwestern, eastern and southeastern Serbia. MHC class II loci DLA- DRB1, DQA1 and DQB1 were amplified and sequenced. Newly found allele was confirmed by molecular cloning and three-locus haplotypes were assigned to each individual. Analysis revealed four DQA, three DQB and four DRB alleles. Allele DQA1*00101 was found for the first time in golden jackal species, exclusively in one individual and surprisingly, in homozygotic form. Found alleles formed six different three-locus haplotypes. Our results suggest that Serbian jackal population might have a higher MHC diversity than the Croatian population as two additional alleles were detected on DQA locus despite the significantly smaller sample size.

The protection of habitats makes an integral part of the nature conservation policy in the European Union. The updated digital Habitat Map of Croatia shows the spatial overview of natural and semi-natural, non-forest terrestrial and inland freshwater habitats at a scale of 1:25000. The field validation of habitats was carried out during 2015 and 2016. The size of the surveyed area in eastern Croatia is 10 262.02 km2. Total 5032 field points were collected by using a tablet with GIS/GPS and Habitat Mapper application. The composition and distribution of the main habitat type classes were analysed in the surveyed area of 10 262.02 km2. Dominating habitats belongs into categories of cultivated habitats (47.4%), and forests (40.0%), followed by constructed and industrial habitats (3.59%), inland surface water and wetlands (3.54%), grasslands (2.83%) and scrubs (2.59%). The knowledge on habitat structure and interpretation of the habitat map is an important tool for the sustainable management of natural resources in agriculture, forestry, hunting and freshwater fisheries.

Sažetak predstavlja prijedlog teme doktorske disertacije (uvod, materijali i metode, ciljevi istraživanja i hipoteze te očekivani znanstveni doprinos).

Ticks (Acari, Ixodidae) are haematophagous ectoparasites of wild and domesticate mammals, birds and reptiles. They are an important vector of many zoonotic pathogens of viral and bacterial origin that also affects human health. Climate change is having impact on seasonality in life cycle and shift in the climatic niche related to latitudinal and altitudinal range in Europe. Wild Boar (Sus scrofa L.) as a game animal with wide range in Croatia can host populations of ticks. Sampling of ticks were done on hunted wild boars in four hunting grounds, located in two different biogeographical regions of Croatia: Spačva, Nova Gradiška and Voćin (Pannonian region), and Slunj (Alpine/Dinaric region). A total of 118 specimens was collected on 18 infested wild boars. The most abundant species was Dermacentor reticulatus (90.68%), followed by Ixodes ricinus (6.78%) and Ixodes hexagonus (2.54%). The largest number of ticks was in adult stage (96.61%), and 3.39% in the nymphal stage. An average infestation rate was 7 ticks per individual, and the highest value, 11 ticks, was recorded from the Spačva hunting ground. Dermacentor reticulatus was not present in Slunj hunting ground, but it was dominant (95.54%) in the lowland hunting ground in Spačva

Priručnik je namijenjen osobama koje se osposobljavaju za lovnika. Sadrži osnove pravnih propisa i vođenja evidencije, objekata i prihrane, selekcije, biosigurnosti, lovačke etike, sigurnosti u lovu te upotrebe suvremenih tehnologija u lovstvu.

Sustainable management of wildlife species aims to keep populations of wild fauna and flora, and their habitats under stable condition over time, taking into account the nature conservation policy and socio-economic needs of human populations. Wildlife is an important renewable natural resource, with significance for areas such as rural development, land-use planning, food supply, tourism, scientific research and cultural heritage. The length of the Danube course in Croatia is 137.5 km (river km 1433 -1295.5), which makes 5% of the total length. Spatial distribution of terrestrial, aquatic and wetland habitats is in permanent dynamic exchange, depending on frequency, intensity and duration of floods, as well as drought periods Along the Croatian Danube stretch, the most frequent are broad-leaved forests (86%), classified into habitat types of the floodplain willow forests (Salicion albae), floodplain poplar forests (Populion albae), and plantations of allochthonous poplars. Scrub and open spaces with little or no vegetation makes 3%, agricultural area 3%, while industrial and urban areas makes 4% each. Wetlands provides habitat for numerous biological species, especially fishes, birds and mammals. Tradition of hunting the particular wild animal species: red deer (Cervus elaphus), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and wild boar (Sus scrofa) in this part of Croatia dates back more than 300 years. Nowadays, game management and hunting activities are implemented according to Croatian nature protection legislation. Freshwater fish diversity of the Danube River comprises 32 identified species, classified into seven families. Members of the family Ciprinidae dominates with 14 species, followed by Percidae (4 species), Ictaluridae (2 species) and four families (Centrarchidae, Cobitidae, Esocidae, Siluridae), with one species each. Total annual growth of fish biomass is estimated at 35-40 kg/ha in the Danube, and 25-200 kg/ha in the floodplain, depending on the flood intensity and duration. Main threats to wildlife management are habitat loss or degradation, soil and water pollution, more frequent occurrence of extreme weather and hydrological events, spreading of the invasive alien species and water-borne diseases.

Čagalj (Canis aureus L.) se ubraja u granu Boreoeutheria, nadred Laurasiatheria, red Carnivora i porodicu Canidae. U Hrvatskoj naseljava i mediteranski i kontinentalni dio, uz stalni porast brojnosti. U ovom pregledu prikazat će se rezultati istraživanja izmeta čagljeva s odlagališta otpada na rubnom dijelu grada Trpnja na Pelješcu, gdje se čagljevi uobičajeno hrane hranom antropogenog podrijetla, i istraživanja provedenog na čagljevima iz kontinentalnog dijela Hrvatske. Parazitološkim pretragama izmeta čagljeva s poluotoka Pelješca utvrdili smo invadiranost u 75% istraživanih uzoraka, uz najveću učestalost jajašca strongilidnog tipa (60, 71%). Jajašca oblića Toxocara canis i Trichuris vulpis utvrdili smo u 14, 29% i 10, 71% uzoraka. Jajašca Capillaria aerophila i Strongyloides spp. smo ustvrdili u 3, 57% uzoraka. Kod uzoraka izmeta čagljeva iz kontinentalnog dijela Hrvatske pronađeni su metilji A. alata (P=52, 17%) i Opistorchiida (P=17, 39%), oblići U. stenocephala (P=30, 43%), Capillaria aerophila (P=13, 04%), Trichuris vulpis (P=8, 69%), A. caninum (P=4, 34%) i Crenosoma vulpis (P=4, 34%), trakavice Toxocara canis (P=17, 39%), Taenia sp. (P=17, 39%), Mesocestoides sp. (P=8, 69%), E. multilocularis (P=4, 34%) i Toxascaris leonina (P=4, 34%). Pored toga utvrđene su Sarcocystis sp. (P=13, 04%) i oociste kokcidija (P=8, 69%), Dobiveni rezultati s poluotoka Pelješca, a posebice izostanak trakavica kod tih uzoraka kao inače redovitog nalaza u čagljeva, upućuju na promjenu u prehrambenim navikama i hranjenje hranom antropogenog podrijetla, što pogoduje invadiranosti parazitima s izravnim ciklusom razvoja. Za potvrđivanje ove pretpostavke neophodno je proširiti istraživanje na druge dijelove poluotoka (naglasak na prirodnoj ishrani čagljeva) i na druga godišnja doba. U tri istraživane županije kontinentalnog dijela Hrvatske najviša prevalencija je u Zagrebačkoj županiji od 100%, zatim u Osječko-baranjskoj županiji 81, 81% i u Sisačko-moslavačkoj 75%. U sva tri područja najveću prevalenciju ima metilj Alaria alata te ona iznosi 100% za područje Zagrebačke županije, 72, 72% za Osječko-baranjsku županiju i 33, 33% za Sisačko- moslavačku županiju.

Analizirana je struktura trofeja odstrijeljene srneće divljači u razdoblju od 5 godina (2011. do 2015.) u državnom otvorenom lovištu broj XVI/14 „Trizlovi - Rastovo“ koje se nalazi u jugoistočnom dijelu Vukovarsko-srijemske županije. Ukupna površina lovišta iznosi 3102 ha, dok lovno produktivna površina iznosi 1400 ha za srneću divljač. Prema podacima iz lovno gospodarske osnove orografske, hidrografske i klimatske prilike, te količina dostupne hrane i mir u staništu su povoljni za uzgoj srneće divljači (III bonitetni razred, 6 grla/100 ha LPP, a godišnji prirast iznosi 26 grla). Podaci u istraživanju prikupljeni su iz trofejnih listova srnjaka ocjenjenih u tom razdoblju. Ukupno je odstrijeljeno 125 grla, od toga 63muška grla, a ocjenjeno je 28 trofeja srnjaka dok ostala odstrijeljena grla nisu imala elemente za ocjenu te nisu uvrštena u analizu. Od mjerljivih elemenata u izračun su uzeta kvantitativna obilježja, a to su prosječna masa i volumen trofeja, prosječna duljina grana i ukupan broj CIC točaka. Prosječna masa trofeja kretala se od 268 do 312 grama, prosječan volumen od 104, 83 do 116, 71 cm³, prosječna duljina grana rogova od 21, 13 do 23, 20 cm, dok je prosječna vrijednost trofeja iznosila od 80, 56 do 88, 29 CIC točaka. Trofejna vrijednost kretala se od minimalnih 71, 3 do maksimalnih 110, 53 CIC točke, a pri tome su odstrjeljena 2 grla kapitalne vrijednosti u brončanoj medalji. Prosječna vrijednost svih mjerljivih elemenata kretala se uzlaznom putanjom četiri godine osim zadnje lovne 2014/2015. godine kada je značajno opalo brojno stanje divljači, narušena je spolna i dobna struktura te trofejna vrijednost divljači zbog pucanja nasipa na rijeci Savi i poplava u jednom dijelu lovišta. Poplava je značajno utjecala na brojno stanje divljači, rezultate gospodarenja i trofejnu vrijednost divljači.

Splitsko-dalmatinska županija nalazi se u središnjem dijelu južne Hrvatske. Prema prirodnogeografskim obilježjima podijeljena je u tri cjeline: obalno područje, zaleđe i otoci. U Splitsko-dalmatinskoj županiji ustanovljena su 83 lovišta na ukupnoj površini od 449.490 ha. Lovno gospodarenje u 10-godišnjem razdoblju (2007.-2017.) analizirano je u odabrana 32 zajednička otvorena lovišta. Važnije vrste divljači su: svinja divlja, zec obični, fazan, jarebica kamenjarka-grivna, muflon i divokoza. Iz planskih dokumenata za svako lovište prikupljeni su i obrađeni podaci o vrstama divljači i njihovim matičnim fondovima, planiranom i ostvarenom odstrjelu, trofejnoj vrijednosti i drugim značajnim parametrima uzgoja i korištenja divljači. Gospodarenje matičnim fondovima i planirani odstrjel vrsta krupne, odnosno sitne divljači uglavnom su uspješno ostvarivani u analiziranom razdoblju. Negativni utjecaj predacije vuka na divokozu, muflona i divlju svinju postao je ozbiljni problem zbog štete koju nanosi u lovištima. Ukupno je ocijenjeno 179 trofeja divlje svinje, od kojih 71 ili 40% u kategoriji kapitalnih, a najvrjedniji je ocijenjen sa 136, 00 CIC točaka. Kvalitetno lovno gospodarenje, uključujući i stalnu brigu o divljači i provođenje aktivnosti za poboljšanja kakvoće staništa, doprinosi stabilnosti matičnih fondova divljači i preduvjet je za postizanje visoke, kapitalne trofejne vrijednost divljači.

Čagalj je oportunistički mesojed iz porodice pasa. U Republici Hrvatskoj nalazi se na popisu divlja-či bez lovostaja. Stalno zubalo čaglja sadržava 42 zuba te je po svome izgledu karakteristično za pripadnike ove porodice. U ovom je istraživanju pregledano 96 lubanja čaglja s područja Slavonije i Baranje. Patološke promjene na zubima utvrđene su na 15 lubanja (15, 63 %), i to na ukupno 24 zuba. Najčešće utvrđena promjena bio je prijelom zuba, zatim parodontitis te nedostatak zuba i nepravilan zagriz. Statistički gledano, broj prijeloma značajno je veći od nedostatka zuba i nepravilnog zagriza (χ2 = 5, 6889 ; p = 0, 017073) te apscesa, karijesa, prekobrojnog zuba i horizontalnog gubitka kosti (χ2 = 7, 8112 ; p = 0, 005192). Promjene nisu utvrđene na P1-3, I2-3 i M2-3. Veći broj promjena utvrđen je na donjoj čeljusti. Ukupno je utvrđeno 12 promijenjenih zuba na lijevoj strani usne šupljine te 8 na desnoj strani.

The protection of habitats is an integral part of the wildlife and nature conservation in the European Union member states, including the Republic of Croatia. The updated digital Terrestrial Habitat Map of Croatia (delivered in December, 2016), gives the spatial overview of natural and semi-natural, non-forest terrestrial and inland freshwater habitats at scale 1:25 000. The field validation of habitats was carried out in eastern part of Croatia during 2015 and 2016. Total 5, 032 field points were collected by using tablet with a GIS/GPS and Habitat Mapper application. The composition and distribution of the main habitat type classes were analyzed in the surveyed area in size of 10, 262.02 km2. Prevailing habitats belongs into categories: Cultivated habitats (47.4%), Forests (40.0%), Constructed and industrial habitats (3.59%), Inland surface water and wetlands (3.54%), Grasslands (2.83%), and Scrubs (2.59%). Knowledge on habitat structure makes an important tool in planning measures for maintaining a favorable conservation status of habitats in eastern Croatia and sustainable management with natural resources in agriculture, forestry, hunting and fisheries

Poljska jarebica staro je ime za poljsku koku, koju važeći Zakon o lovstvu imenuje kao trčka skvržulja (Perdix perdix L.) i svrstava u sitnu pernatu divljač. Rasprostranjena je na području gotovo cijele Europe, a u Hrvatskoj do 600 m n/v, uglavnom na području Panonske nizine, Istre i ravničarskih dijelova Dalmacije. Mase je do 400 grama, duljine oko 30 cm (rep 10 cm) i raspona krila do 60 cm. Spolni dimorfizam je slabo izražen, pri čemu je temeljna boja perja smeđa (u mužjaka nešto svjetlija), mjestimice sivkasta s uzdužnim i poprečnim bjelkastim prugama. Imaju izvrsno razvijen vid i sluh, a slabo njuh i okus. Trčke su monogamne životinje ; žive u parovima tijekom parenja koje započinje u veljači. Ženka pravi gnijezdo na tlu i u njega polaže oko 20 jaja. Nakon inkubacije koja traje 23 dana izlegu se pilići – potrkušci. Optimalna staništa trčke su nizinska područja s malim parcelama zasijanima u polikulturi i s dosta živica. Prehrana trčki je biljnog i životinjskog podrijetla pri čemu često konzumiraju kukce štetne za poljoprivredne kulture i sjemenke raznih korova, pa se smatraju korisnim čovjeku. Trčkama u staništu ne pogoduju prevelika vlaga i kiša, dugotrajan i dubok snijeg, kao i štetni utjecaj korištenja poljoprivredne mehanizacije i raznih kemikalija. Prirodni neprijatelji su im brojni dlakavi i pernati grabežljivci. Najčešći nametnici koji narušavaju zdravlje trčki u prirodi su različite grinje i krpelji, zatim crijevni i dišni oblići. U kontroliranom uzgoju trčki najčešće su tehnopatije uzrokovane nepravilnim uzgojem. Rjeđe obolijevaju od atipične i klasične kuge, boginja, salmoneloze, pastereloze, kandidijaze, trakavičavosti, singamoze i knemidokoptoze. Pri ispuštanju iz kontroliranog uzgoja u prirodu važna je ispravna prilagodba kako bi gubici bili što manji

Jelen obični (Cervus elaphus Linnaeus, 1758) autohtona je divljač u Hrvatskoj, iznimno cijenjena zbog kvalitetnog mesa i atraktivnosti trofeja. Svrha prirodnog uzgoja jelenske divljači je održavanje zdrave i stabilne populacije sukladno kapacitetu i uvjetima staništa, kao i postizanje vrlo kvalitetne i visoke trofejne vrijednosti. Istraživani su odabrani pokazatelji reprodukcije jelena običnog koji su značajni za unaprjeđenje uzgoja kvalitetne jelenske divljači u lovištima u hrvatskom Podunavlju. Istraživanja su provedena u jedinici za kontrolirani uzgoj jelena, u državnom lovištu XIV/9 „Podunavlje-Podravlje“, u razdoblju od 2012. do 2016. godine. Lovište je nizinskoga tipa, a prevladavaju vodena, vlažna i šumska staništa u poplavnim dolinama rijeka Dunava i Drave. Istraživani su sljedeći pokazatelji: broj košuta u parenju, broj teladi, tjelesna masa teladi od okota do 9. mjeseca života. Rezultati su pokazali kako smanjenjem broja košuta u parenju, pri jednakim uvjetima dolazi do povećanja tjelesne mase teladi pri okotu.Tijekom razdoblja istraživanja, 2012. zabilježeno je 45 okoćene teladi, srednje tjelesne mase pri okotu 10, 61 kg ; dok je 2016. bilo 27 teladi, srednje tjelesne mase 12, 40 kg. Utvrđeno je da postoji određeni vremenski interval kada košute okote telad s najvećom tjelesnom masom.

Lovstvo u Crnoj Gori i Hrvatskoj ima dugu tradiciju. Iako su to susjedne države koje su u prošlosti koristile slične propise u lovstvu, postoje određene specifičnosti. Važeći zakoni o lovstvu u obje države različito određuju koje se životinjske vrste smatraju divljači. Omjer broja lovaca i ukupnog stanovništva u Crnoj Gori iznosi 1:179, a u Hrvatskoj 1:70. Različiti pristupi u organizaciji lovstva očituju se u broju lovišta, proceduri utemeljenja lovišta i stjecanju prava za gospodarenje i lov divljači. Lovački savez Crne Gore i Hrvatski lovački savez djeluju kao nacionalne udruge koje predstavljaju lovce i promiču lovstvo u zemlji i inozemstvu.

The floodplains and wetlands of the Danube River basin are valuable ecosystems, providing various habitats for representatives of wild flora and fauna. Floodplains can also have the positive effect on water quality and nutrient levels, while wetlands serve as retention areas and help to even out flood peaks and reduce flood damage by storing surplus water. The Danube River corridor in the south-eastern part of the Pannonian plane flows throughout the Republic of Croatia in length of 137.5 km (between 1433 and 1295.5 river km). Tradition of hunting game animals, such as red deer, roe deer, wild Boar, European hare and waterfowl in this part of Croatia dates back more than 300 years, since 1781. Nowadays, wildlife management with a purpose of breeding, protection and hunting the game animals is implemented according to Croatian hunting and nature protection legislation. Each wild animal species has its own particular habitat preferences for food, shelter, nesting or breeding site. Diversity and spatial distribution of land, aquatic and marsh vegetation in the Danube River floodplain in Croatia permanently depends on frequency, intensity and duration of floods, as well as drought periods. Among the forest habitat types, the most represented are floodplain forests of white willow (Salix alba) ; black and white poplar (Populus nigra, P. alba), and forest of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) and common hornbeam (Carpinus betulus). When the most of the flooded area is full of water during the warm summer period, abundant growth of the aquatic vegetation from the orders Lemnetalia and Potamogetonetalia was observed on surface of permanent and temporary still water bodies. Prolonged drought period and very low water level stimulate growth and dispersion of amphibious communities from the alliance Nanocyperion on muddy or sandy bottoms of dried swamps, channels and fishponds. Vegetation of tall-sedge marshes, from the class Phragmito- Magnocaricetea is widely distributed, covering large areas inside the floodplain. Main threats to wildlife management are anthropogenic impact, habitat loss or degradation, more frequent occurrence of extreme weather and hydrological events, and water-borne diseases

Alariosis is a newly diagnosed, emerging parasitic disease caused by a digenean trematode Alaria alata (Goeze, 1782). Developmental stages of a trematode, known as mesocercaria, can parasitize all the abdominal organs, lung, eye, somatic muscle and subcutaneous tissue causing severe and sometimes fatal illness in human. Alaria alata requires two intermediate hosts: a freshwater snail and an amphibian. Carnivorous mammals are definitive hosts, while humans and omnivorous wild animals can be paratenic hosts. The presence of mesocercaria in wild boar meat represents the possible human health risk, but little is known about the circulation of mesocercaria in wild boar populations in eastern Croatia. Parasitological monitoring was carried out in the period 2016-2011, with an aim to investigate occurrence of mesocercaria and invasion intensity in free-living wild boar (Sus scrofa) and water frog (Pelophilax kl. esculentus). The sampling comprised three hunting grounds in eastern Croatia: Spačva, Podunavlje-Podravlje and Breznica, characterized with different orographic, hydrological and habitat conditions. In total, muscle tissue samples of 761 wild boars and 43 water frog were examined. Percentage of Alaria alata mesocercaria detected in wild boar was 42% in Spačva ; 7% in Podunavlje-Podravlje, and 1% in Breznica hunting ground. The average number of mesocercaria ranged from 2.4 to 6.5 per 30 g of infected wild boar muscle tissue. Percentage of mesocercaria in water frogs was 11% in Spačva, 56% in Podunavlje-Podravlje, and 0% in Breznica. The more frequent occurrence of mesocercaria was found in the animals living in the lowland, periodically flooded areas with abundance of forest and wetland habitats. This coincided with the fact that life-cycle of Alaria alata depends on presence of freshwater snail and frog, as an intermediate hosts. From the viewpoint of food safety and consumer exposure to this potential food-borne hazard, further monitoring is required to assess the occurrence, infestation rate and propose measures for the parasite reduction and removal from the food chain.

Wild free-ranging mammals are important sentinels of environmental heavy metal pollution due to their permanent exposure in various habitats. The concentrations of total mercury (Hg) was determined in samples of liver, kidney and muscle of European badger, Meles meles L. (Carnivora, Mustelidae) from eastern Slavonia region, north-eastern Croatia. Total of 29 badgers were collected at 20 localities by regular hunt or found killed in road traffic accidents, in the period 2009- 2011. Determination of mercury concentration was performed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). Mean Hg concentration was higher in kidney (0.1833 mg kg-1) compared to liver (0.1401 mg kg-1) and muscle (0.0381 mg kg-1). The highest concentrations were measured in adult, seven year old female (2.002 mg kg-1 in liver ; 1.813 mg kg-1 in kidney ; 0.255 mg kg-1 in muscle). Higher mercury accumulation in kidney than liver, suggests an inorganic form of mercury which is excreted mainly by kidney. Assumed sources of heavy metals are geological ground, sediments and water in the floodplain, dust emissions from the road traffic, improper waste disposal and use of agricultural chemicals.