Bosnia & Herzegovina's armed forces have turned some of their firefighting resources to delivering drinking water to wild horses threatened by hot and dry weather on a plateau near the western town of Livno.
The operation was ordered by the country's defence minister as the armed forces stepped up their support for civilian authorities dealing with natural disasters, including a wave of wildfires across the country.
Soldiers from the 1st Infantry Battalion of the 4th Infantry Brigade were sent to the Kruzi plateau, in the Livno area, with a military water tanker to ensure the horses had regular access to drinking water, a statement from the army said.
The Livno area's wild horses are one of Bosnia's best-known natural features, roaming the high plateau and surrounding mountains. The animals are considered an important part of the region's natural heritage and have become a familiar sight to residents and visitors.
The defence ministry said the horses were particularly vulnerable because of the adverse weather conditions, making access to water a priority.
"Wild horses in the Livno area represent one of the recognisable natural resources of our country and a valuable part of its natural heritage," the ministry said.
"Their preservation and care for their needs represent a shared responsibility and an important contribution to the protection of nature and the preservation of this unique symbol of the Livno region."
The military's intervention was also presented as an example of how the armed forces can assist beyond their traditional defence role when civilian authorities face emergencies.
"This humane engagement is another example of the commitment of the Armed Forces of BiH to, within their legal jurisdiction and available capacities, provide assistance and protect the natural values of Bosnia and Herzegovina," the ministry said.
The water delivery comes as the armed forces are being heavily deployed elsewhere in the country to combat wildfires, with helicopters and troops supporting civilian firefighting teams.
On September 8, the country's presidency approved four further requests for military assistance in fighting fires in Konjic, Drvar, Živinice and Trnovo. The defence ministry said the helicopter deployment in Konjic was a priority.
Since August 6, military helicopter units have carried out firefighting operations in areas including Trebinje, Konjic, Bihać, Mostar, Kalesija, Cazin, Bosanska Krupa, Bosansko Grahovo, Drvar and Prozor-Rama, while operations have also continued around Nevesinje and Mrkonjić Grad.
The ministry said 2026 had brought the armed forces' heaviest-ever involvement in helping civilian authorities tackle fires, underscoring their role in the country's disaster-response system.
Croatia has invested €5.2bn in water management since 2016 as climate change brings more frequent droughts and floods and increases pressure on water resources, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on September 8.
Plenković said climate change was changing the country's approach to water management, requiring greater focus not only on flood protection but also on preserving water supplies during droughts, protecting groundwater and reducing losses.
"What may seem like a natural abundance to us today will be one of our most precious strategic resources tomorrow," Plenković said at an event marking 150 years of organised water management in Croatia.
Investments since 2016 have enabled 130,000 people to gain access to water, while 500,000 now have access to improved water supplies, he said. The possibility of connecting to public water supply has reached 96%, with 91% actually connected.
Around 515,000 residents have gained access to public drainage since 2016, while 2.3mn have access to improved drainage and wastewater treatment systems.
Plenković said 269 water-management projects worth €1.9bn had been approved under the EU-backed recovery plan, including €1.2bn in grants. Another €914mn in grants had been secured through the EU Competitiveness and Cohesion programme.
More than 300 km of flood embankments have been built or reconstructed over the past decade, while five major retention areas can hold around 2bn cubic metres of water.
"But investment in infrastructure must be accompanied by investment in knowledge, monitoring, prevention and institutional capacity to react before a problem arises," Plenković said.
Croatia's water-supply network now exceeds 50,000 km, while 118 wastewater treatment plants have been built or reconstructed in the past decade.
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