Zalužnica is a village situated in the Gacka valley within the Lika-Senj County of Croatia. It is geographically positioned along the road connecting the market town of Otočac to Plitvice Lakes National Park. The settlement was primarily populated during the early to mid-17th century and reached its peak population in the late 19th century.
The village features a church dating from 1753, which is believed to have replaced an earlier wooden structure. Following a period of progressive decline due to war and migration, the area was almost entirely de-populated in 1995 during the breakup of Yugoslavia. While many residents moved to Serbia, some elderly inhabitants remained, and the village has recently seen a small influx of holiday home owners and returning residents.
In recent years, local authorities have allocated several empty farm properties for use by Roma people. The community also re-established the annual Petrovdan celebrations in the 2000s, which serves as a gathering point for individuals with connections to the village from both Serbia and abroad.