Thirty years ago Croatia's forests were still home to between 600 and 1000 wolves. Today there are only 50-60 specimen left. Over the past few years EuroNatur, aided by EuroNatur 'wolf guardians', has been supporting the campaigns of the "Vuk" (wolf) working group. Their main success to date has been to achieve strict legal protection for wolves. However, the law on its own is not enough. Just like in the other countries the observation of the species is required in order to step in if problems arise. Expert advisers must be available as contacts, and funds are needed to help avoid damage or to reimburse for damages caused.

In late 1997 the Croatian Nature Conservation Agency hired twelve experts as wolf inspectors. They were given a ministerial certificate, important equipment and aids as well as mileage reimbursements. Their brief is to help avoid conflicts between man and wolf, and they work jointly with scientific advisors. As elsewhere, the focus in Croatia is on protecting livestock. In 1997 alone, wolves were blamed for the loss of 500 domestic animals. The wolf inspectors analysed the notified cases and found that only two thirds could actually be blamed on wolves, the remainder having mostly been caused by straying dogs. In 1997 the Croatian Government paid out the equivalent of more than 250,000 German Marks as reimbursements to farmers to give the wolf as an endangered species a chance of survival. The inspectors have also identified some risk factors: Small flocks of sheep, 20-30 ewes in size, without supervision in a landscape that offers plenty of cover for the predator are most at risk. Most of the attacks take place between 4 and 8 o'clock in the morning.