In 1987, a team from the Tethys Research Institute started the Adriatic Dolphin Project, a long-term research into the biology, ecology, and social structures of bottlenose dolphins that live in the sea around Cres and Lošinj.
The project was taken over by the Blue World Institute from Veli Lošinj in 1999. The dolphins from Lošinj are one of the most well-researched dolphin communities in the entire Mediterranean.
The community counts roughly around 200 residents, and most have been identified by their natural characteristics such as scars on their dorsal fins – a part of dolphin’s body that is always visible when they resurface to breathe.
There are many dangers for the dolphin population of Cres and Lošinj, such as ships that disrupt their free movement and whose engines produce noise that interferes with their communication and orientation.
Long-term disturbance can have permanent consequences that include stress-related health problems, reduced breeding success, or avoiding the areas that were previously significant for their survival.
All marine mammals in Croatia have been protected by law since 17 May 1995.
INFO: Blue World Institute
