Vrtare Male

Vrtare Male is a karst pit cave near Dramalj, close to Crikvenica, reaching a depth of about 30 metres. It is especially important for its rich fossil record of Pleistocene animals, including cave lion remains. Systematic fossil research was carried out in 2005 through cooperation between the Town of Crikvenica, the Crikvenica Town Museum, the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, and the Croatian Natural History Museum. A small brackish pool at the bottom supports the blind, pigmentless freshwater cave prawn Troglocharis anophthalmus. The site forms part of the National Ecological Network, HR3000257. Its scientific importance makes it a research site rather than a developed cave open for independent visits.