Martin Kuivenhoven
Member
Sometimes you come across a place that just makes you stop in awe. My jaw just dropped to the floor, and stayed there. Wow, what a first impression.
The Sokolarski Centar in Dubrava, a tiny village outside of Sibenik in Croatia, is a rescue center and hospital for birds of prey. It's a hidden away in the hills of Dalmatia and it took us ages to find. A helpful local elder gave us specific instructions (in native Croatian) and when he saw me taking a left turn where I should have gone right he never hesitated, jumped in his car and came to our rescue. After a very bumpy ride over a narrow winding sandpath, lined with stone walls we finally saw a hidden gate: there it was.
Insecure if it was even open to the public or if we were a the right location we parked the car and after a couple of steps I suddenly stood face to face with a European Uhu. No cages, bars or fences, just a stick and a thin rope secured to the bird's leg. It quickly became clear that this was no ordinary sanctuary. The animals are not on display but they're out in the open, shielded from the sun by the many trees.
1
This owl was one of the first inhabitants and already in the center for years. Victim of "human stupidity" she was once some one's pet, discarded and neglected. The owner of the sanctuary took her in and she is one of the causes his family started the center. Run by Emilio, founder and driving force behind the center they took on the care for this owl and soon more birds followed, all with the ultimate goal to (re-)introduce them back into their natural habitat. As the only rescue center for birds of prey the center grew to what it is today. And everywhere you can feel the pure love and fascination for these birds.
The owl showed this dog who's the boss.
2. about 3x its normal size with its feathers out like a peacock. Aparently size DOES matter!
Most birds are brought in wounded or disoriented. Also there are animials being brought in by local residents who find -injured- wild birds in their surroundings (they are a status symbol after all in some cultures). And the new 4-lane highway straight through their habitat is not helpful and also causes a lot of casualties. Birds like these use landmarks for orienting and such a large new landmark confuses them.
3. Almost ready to be return to the woods.
4. The sanctuary allows each animals to fly freely for at least one hour a day. There are several trainers handling the birds and regularly they have to chase the birds. The area is so remote the animals are usually found in the near surroundings.
The Sokolarski Centar in Dubrava, a tiny village outside of Sibenik in Croatia, is a rescue center and hospital for birds of prey. It's a hidden away in the hills of Dalmatia and it took us ages to find. A helpful local elder gave us specific instructions (in native Croatian) and when he saw me taking a left turn where I should have gone right he never hesitated, jumped in his car and came to our rescue. After a very bumpy ride over a narrow winding sandpath, lined with stone walls we finally saw a hidden gate: there it was.
Insecure if it was even open to the public or if we were a the right location we parked the car and after a couple of steps I suddenly stood face to face with a European Uhu. No cages, bars or fences, just a stick and a thin rope secured to the bird's leg. It quickly became clear that this was no ordinary sanctuary. The animals are not on display but they're out in the open, shielded from the sun by the many trees.
1
This owl was one of the first inhabitants and already in the center for years. Victim of "human stupidity" she was once some one's pet, discarded and neglected. The owner of the sanctuary took her in and she is one of the causes his family started the center. Run by Emilio, founder and driving force behind the center they took on the care for this owl and soon more birds followed, all with the ultimate goal to (re-)introduce them back into their natural habitat. As the only rescue center for birds of prey the center grew to what it is today. And everywhere you can feel the pure love and fascination for these birds.
The owl showed this dog who's the boss.
2. about 3x its normal size with its feathers out like a peacock. Aparently size DOES matter!
Most birds are brought in wounded or disoriented. Also there are animials being brought in by local residents who find -injured- wild birds in their surroundings (they are a status symbol after all in some cultures). And the new 4-lane highway straight through their habitat is not helpful and also causes a lot of casualties. Birds like these use landmarks for orienting and such a large new landmark confuses them.
3. Almost ready to be return to the woods.
4. The sanctuary allows each animals to fly freely for at least one hour a day. There are several trainers handling the birds and regularly they have to chase the birds. The area is so remote the animals are usually found in the near surroundings.
