Flora and fauna

FLORA
The gentle climate of the island of Lošinj is seen in its richness of plant types. According to research, 1018 plant types were identified, of which 939 belong to the autochthonous flora. 230 of these plans fall under medical herbs. About 80 types of plants, mainly exotic plants, were brought from other parts of the world by masters and sailors from Lošinj, who planted them in and around their home gardens.

Because of the typical climate plants from south Dalmatia and Sicily can be grown. Thick pinewoods around Mali Lošinj became the green belt that protects the town and the harbour from the north wind. On the side of Čikat the woods slowly changed into a park.

Today the thick pinewoods of Lošinj are the symbol of the island and a valuable asset in its tourist development. The Čikat has been nominated a park of nature.

FAUNA
It is significant that there are no poisonous snakes on the Lošinj archipelago. There are just lizards and non-poisonous snakes.The island of Lošinj is the habitat of geckos, small lizards of the gekkonidae family.Geckos are protected species.Killing geckos is forbidden and punished by law. There is small game, as well as big game on the island – fallow deer and moufflons, which have been colonized in this area.

There is a lot of feathered game.The birds of prey found in this area include hawks, sparrow-hawks, falcons and giant griffon vultures.Because of the small number of preserved individuals griffon vultures have been protected by law as an endangered species. The most common domestic animals found in this area are sheep.The sheep on the rocky pastures in the northern part of the island of Lošinj present an idyllic picture.

The local waters of the archipelago abound in various fish, shellfish and molluscs, such as cuttle-fish, squid and octopus. Unlike some waters of the neighbouring countries, where they have become extinct, dolphins are frequent visitors of this area, playful and ready to make contact with humans.