On Male Srakane, a small island off Croatia’s Adriatic coast, Ana and Werner Kohl have spent more than fifty years as its only permanent residents. The couple settled on the island in the 1960s, following a doctor’s advice to seek a better climate for their son’s asthma. Drawn by the sea air and the promise of tranquility, they built a life far from the conveniences of the mainland.
Male Srakane sits between the islands of Susak and Unije, west of Lošinj. When the Kohls arrived in 1965, the island still had a small community, with vegetable gardens and vineyards. Over time, but, most residents left, and the island’s traditional way of life faded. Today, it has no shops or restaurants, no roads, and no regular water supply. Information from HRT, church bells are the only sounds that break the silence. They ring for religious festivals or to signal emergencies to the neighboring island of Vele Srakane.
The Kohls stayed out of necessity and for their family, not because they were seeking isolation. Their son’s health needs led them to the sea, and they adapted to the island’s rhythms. Tourists and second-home owners visit during the summer, but Ana and Werner remain through the harsh winters, managing daily life without infrastructure most people take for granted.
Life Without Modern Comforts
Male Srakane’s lack of basic services shapes every aspect of daily life. There are no cars or shops, and no cafés. Water must be managed carefully, especially during droughts, when growing fruit becomes nearly impossible. The Kohls focus on hardy crops such as tomatoes and beans, along with peppers, adapting to the island’s limitations.
Transport is another challenge. The island is connected to Mali Lošinj by boat, but the ferry only stops if passengers request it in advance. The wider island route also depends on the weather: the German newspaper Westfälischer Anzeiger reported that Jadrolinija’s line 310, which normally connects Mali Lošinj, Susak, Unije and Vele Srakane, skipped Unije for safety during severe Adriatic weather. A journey to the mainland so takes planning and patience, and disruptions can affect connections across the archipelago.
Neighbors Across the Water
On nearby Vele Srakane, just three people were living there when the story was reported: Igor and Blanka Rukavina, and fisherman Dubravko Balenović. Igor, who had spent two decades on the island, said returning to the city was harder than enduring the isolation. Island life offers peace and freedom, but easy access to supplies and services is the trade-off.
Vele Srakane has electricity and internet, as well as water, but residents still call for better transport links. In the 1950s, the island supported around a hundred people, with fishing and farming central to the community, alongside livestock. Today, only a handful remain, and the infrastructure struggles to meet even their modest needs.
Solitude and Ability to recover
Ana and Werner Kohl’s story offers a rare example of ability to recover and adaptation. Their life on Male Srakane demands self-sufficiency and careful planning, along with a willingness to accept the island’s hardships in exchange for its quiet beauty. Bells that once called a community now ring for just two people, a reminder of how quickly places can empty out.
As HRT reports, the Kohls’ experience is about making the best of a situation shaped by family and circumstance, rather than romantic isolation. Their story reflects rural depopulation and the endurance required to stay when almost everyone else has left.
