The Last Shepherd of Montenegro Still Guarding the Pogledine Katun!
Imagine a world where silence is louder than noise, where no one is around during the day, and at night only the wind rustles through mountain peaks. This isn’t a scene from an apocalyptic movie, but the reality on Durmitor in Montenegro, where the last shepherd, Slobodan Dakić, bravely guards the Pogledine katun.
A Katun That’s Dying
The Pogledine katun, once the vibrant heart of livestock farming on Durmitor, is now almost deserted. Without Slobodan Dakić, the last shepherd, this katun would be completely empty. He is the one who still leads his flock of black sheep, preserving a tradition and a way of life that is slowly disappearing.
Ninth Decade and Unbreakable Will
Slobodan has entered his ninth decade of life, but his will to continue livestock farming is stronger than ever. “It’s a great miracle when a man has the will for something, then nothing is hard,” he says. Every summer he is alone at the katun, no one is around during the day, and at night he misses company the most.
Life in Isolation
Imagine not seeing a single person all day, only endless nature and your flock. That’s life at the katun. In winter, Slobodan is one of the few residents of Little Montenegro, where the TV and livestock keep him company. “You talk to the livestock, it’s like a conversation,” he explains.
The Fate of Pogledine Katun
Pogledine shares the fate of many katuns across Montenegro – they are slowly disappearing because there is no one to continue the tradition. But as long as Slobodan has health and will, the sheep will follow the sound of the shepherd’s staff, and the katun will live.
Why Should We Care?
In a world rushing towards urbanization and modernization, Slobodan Dakić is living proof that tradition and nature still have a place. But for how long? Will we allow such people and their culture to vanish forever?
A Little Food for Thought
Next time you complain about city life, remember Slobodan and his katun – where silence is law, and company is sheep. And if you have a funny comment or think Slobodan could teach you how to talk to sheep, feel free to drop a comment. Let the voice of the katun be heard!
