European Animals Bulgaria and Croatia
The wildlife of two European countries
Wildlife of Bulgaria
Bulgaria is a small Balkan country in southeastern Europe. It has boundaries with Romania to the north, Turkey and Greece to the south, Serbia to the west, and the Black Sea to the east. The country has nearly 110 species of mammals, over 400 native bird species, 37 reptile species, and 214 native species of butterflies.
Official National Animal
Lion which appears on the Coat of Arms and the name of its currency comes from the Bulgarian word for “lion”.
Places to see wildlife
Rila National Park is a refuge.
It is home to rock partridges, chamois, capercaillie birds, choughs, wall creepers, owls, bats, and martens.
Srebarna Nature Reserve is a freshwater lake and bird sanctuary that is close to the Danube River. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Living here are herons, cormorants, swans, and other waterfowl that make their homes on the marshy flats.
St. Ivan’s Island is a national park and marine reserve providing shelter for bird species and the critically endangered Mediterranean monk seal.
Bulgarian horses run free in the summer and you can see herds of them in the Stara Planina Valley. They enjoy running wild in the mountains, particularly in the Stara Planina which is the local name for a mountain range within the Balkan Peninsula.
Dancing Bear Park is a bear sanctuary. This is a large forested area in the Rila Mountains close to the town of Belitsa. The sanctuary provides a home for abused bears rescued from zoos and human performers who trained them to dance. Bear dancing as entertainment is illegal in the Balkans and Europe.
Native Animals
European rabbits are a species of wild rabbits native to the Iberian Peninsula and spread throughout the rest of Europe.
European pine martens are a species of mustelid native to all of Europe.
Eurasian lynxes are a medium-sized species of wild cats native to most of Europe, Asia, and Siberia.
Golden jackals are a species of canid native to southeastern Europe and Southern Asia.
European bison are a species of bison native to Eastern Europe. They’re the heaviest wild land animals in all of Europe.
Chamois are a species of goat-antelope native to European mountains.
European minks are a species of semiaquatic mustelid native to most of Europe.
European moles are a species of mammals native to most of central and northern Europe.
Steppe polecats are a species of mustelids found in central and eastern Europe.
European fallow deer are a species of deer native to the Balkans, Turkey, Italy, and the island of Rhodes.
Birds
Dalmatian pelicans are the largest species of pelicans on Earth. They’re the world's largest freshwater birds.
White storks are a large species of birds with long red legs and beaks.
Egyptian vultures are a species of vultures found from the Iberian Peninsula to northern Africa and the Indian subcontinent.
Wildlife of Croatia
The European country of Croatia is located at the crossroads of central and southeastern Europe. The country is bordered by Hungary, Slovenia, Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Croatia sits adjacent to Italy located across the Adriatic Sea. There are lowlands among them the Pannonian Plains in the north and the Adriatic Basin in the south along the coast. The regions are divided by the Dinaric Alps.
Official National Animal
European pine marten
Official National Bird
Common nightingale
Croatia has over 400 protected areas among them 8 national parks, 2 reserves, and 11 natural parks.
Paklenica National Park is located in a river canyon near the Adriatic coast.
It is a bird lovers’ paradise with over 200 species of birds among them golden eagles, short-toed eagles, peregrine falcons, and goshawks.
Risnjak National Park is located in Gorski Kotar. It is surrounded by mountains and forests.
It is home to deer, bears, wild boar, martens, badgers, weasels, chamois, woodpeckers, and many birds of prey.
Native Animals
Wild boars are among the most widespread species seen in European forests.
European hedgehogs are a species of hedgehogs native to western and northern Europe.
European badgers are a species of carnivorous mammals native to almost all of Europe.
Raccoon dogs are native to Asia and mostly China and due to the fur trade were introduced to Europe.
Wolves are among the most iconic animals from the forests of Europe.
Indian mongooses have been introduced to Eastern Europe.
Marine Animals
Eurasian beavers are a species of beavers widespread in Eurasia usually by water sources.
European water voles are a species of semi-aquatic rodents.
Eurasian otters are a species of semi-aquatic mammals.
Bottlenose dolphins can be located off the coast.
Humpback whales can be seen cavorting off the coast.
Endangered Animals
Mediterranean monk seal
Olm
Eurasian lynx
Eurasian wolf
Eurasian beaver
Dalmatian turtle
About the Creator
Rasma Raisters
My passions are writing and creating poetry. I write for several sites online and have four themed blogs on Wordpress. Please follow me on Twitter.
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