Since they cannot use legal border crossings as they do not possess identification documents, many of the migrants coming to Bosnia choose to walk through the woods, where they risk encountering wild animals and leftover landmines from the 1992-1995 war.

Thousands have entered Bosnia on their way toward EU countries since the year began. The country became a significant transit point after numerous surrounding states closed their borders, with Bosnia now being described as a “migrant hotspot” among local officials.

The next stop after Bosnia is mostly the country’s western neighbour, Croatia. Croatian border police, however, often turn them back.

The N1 team went to see the northeastern area of Pljesevica, near Bihac, which migrants often opt for in their attempts to avoid authorities.

N1 found several dozen migrants walking the 30-kilometre route late Monday afternoon. According to locals from the nearby Zavalje village, the path is dangerous and between 50 and 100 migrants pass it daily.

They sometimes briefly stop by the village, but they do not cause any trouble, the locals said.

“They fill up their water supply, and that’s it,” said Sasa, a local from Zavalje.

A sign near the village warns about bears in the area.

“There are bears, but there are mostly wild hogs here. And the wolves, when they appear, they come in packs. Encountering such animals is very dangerous when someone is alone,” said mountaineer Fadil Jusic.

Anes Hasan, a 24-year-old Syrian, is using this route in his efforts to reach Croatia for the third time already. With tears in his eyes, he said he has nowhere else to go as the migrant centres are full in the area and Sarajevo is too far away from the border.

He has been a refugee for four years already.

“I am not afraid of anything because we come from places where we were already dead, such as my country, I have seen a lot there, nothing is scaring me here, not even the animals,” he said.

It takes about an hour to drive from Zavalje to the border when driving some 30 km per hour down the improvised road. The migrant groups need longer to walk it. Their leftovers are marking the path: blankets, clothes, food, fireplaces. They often find temporary refuge in abandoned mountain huts.

While the temperature in Bihac is currently 21 Celsius, it’s ten degrees lower in those woods.

Apart from landmines, animals and the cold, the migrants face other dangers as well.

“A friend of mine and his neighbour took a shortcut the other day (…) the rain had just stopped, and all leaves were on the ground,” said hiker Fadil Jusić.

The neighbour slipped next to an abyss, and Jusic’s friend tried to help him but then slipped himself.

“He flew 30 meters down. Because some weird luck, he is still alive,” Jahic said.