Medvida's cave
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The Medvidina špilja is located on the southern side of the island of Biševo, in the Trešjavac bay. It is the longest sea cave in the Adriatic, about 160 meters long. The entrance is 14 meters wide and more than 20 meters high, and then gradually narrows and lowers. At the very end of the cave there is a small beach that can only be reached by small boat. Due to its geological value, it was declared a geomorphological natural monument in 1967. The cave was named after the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus), the only Mediterranean seal, which once lived there. The beach at the end of the cave served as a place where the monk seals rested and raised their young. Today, they are no longer in the cave, but their appearances are occasionally recorded in the Adriatic, and their population still exists in the nearby Aegean Sea. This is precisely why the cave remains an important habitat that is protected and preserved. The cave is semi-dark and completely dark, which is why it has become a refuge for many marine organisms. In the first part, you can often see the floats of the boyeri (Atherina boyeri), and deeper in the cave, numerous species of mysid crustaceans. The rocks are covered with various mosses, sponges and polychaetes, and you can also spot strictly protected species such as the starfish Ophidiaster ophidianus and the toothed snail (Luria lurida). The antenna shrimp (Stenopus spinosus), which is popular among visitors because of its appearance, is also of particular interest. Visits to Medvidina špilja are organized and take place under special rules. It is not allowed to use artificial lights, make noise or approach the beach at the end of the cave, as this could endanger the sensitive habitat. Medvidina špilja is today a significant natural value and a reminder of the former presence of one of the most endangered mammals in the world. Its protection helps preserve the biodiversity of the Adriatic and provides a chance for the Mediterranean monk seal to one day return to these waters.