In the summer of 2026, the company Geonatura d.o.o. conducted monitoring of summer bat colonies at underground roosts of international importance – the Miljacka II and Topla Pećina caves (on the Čikola; UNEP/EUROBATS) – as well as at the Stara Jametina Cave and site of bridge near the Brljan waterfall.
Monitoring was conducted during the formation of the summer – specifically, birthing – colonies of bats in June 2026. It was carried out with the aim of assessing the size of the bat populations present and their species composition, while also evaluating the conservation status of their roosts and providing recommendations for future activities. Bat monitoring in the Miljacka II and Topla Pećina caves has been carried out for many years, with most of the research conducted so far during the summer period, when most species form birthing colonies (females with young), while the Stara Jametina cave and the bridge by Brljan waterfall are relatively new additions, and therefore represent roosts for which there is not much data from previous research. All the field research, data processing, and organization were carried out in accordance with the methodology described in the article Rnjak et al. 2023, "The National Bat Monitoring Program with Monitoring Results".
A total of six bat species have been recorded, all of which are included in Annex II of the Directive on Habitats – i.e. on the "List of plant and animal species of importance to the European Union that require protection": Rhinolophus euryale (Mediterranean horseshoe bat), R. ferrumequinum (Greater horseshoe bat), Myotis blythii (Lesser mouse-eared bat), M. capaccinii (Long-fingered bat), and Miniopterus schreibersii (Common bent-wing bat).
An analysis of the observations made to date indicates significant year-to-year variations in bat abundance; however, the current state of information is insufficient for a detailed analysis of population trends for the species present or the factors influencing them. Conducting more detailed analyses and drawing conclusions will require regular, multi-year monitoring using standardized methods, in accordance with the standards for monitoring bat fauna in underground roosts, as a protocol developed as part of the National Bat Monitoring Program.
Monitoring
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Monitoring the state of cave fauna at speleological structures in the broader area of the Krka NP
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Monitoring the occurrence of plant diseases and pests in forest communities of the Krka NP
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