Croatia's truffle hunters seek habitat protection amid climate change

A forest scientist and field mycologist who samples truffles, Zgrablic showing the white truffle he recently found in the forest. Photos: Damir Sencar/AFP

The sound of paws scurrying along the forest floor echoes through Croatia's northwestern woods, where the hunt for truffles is being threatened by climate change and deforestation – stirring fears that the country's gastronomic goldmine may be at risk.

The delicate microclimate in the picturesque Istria peninsula's forests has long been famed for producing some of the finest white truffles, which this year fetched up to €2,500 (RM11,920) per kilo.