This list is open to nature lovers, who can contribute with their own wildlife experiences in the Carpathians. Feel free to enrich it. It is a common interest.
The Carpathians are famous for its greatest population of carnivores in Europe. As the last area in continental Europe to support viable populations of large carnivores, harbouring perhaps 10 to 20 times more individuals than the Alps, the significance of this can hardly be overestimated. Over 8 000 brown bears (Ursus arctos), 4 000 wolves (Canis lupus), 3 000 lynx (Lynx lynx) and numerous wildcats still roam the Carpathian region. On a continent, where more than 40% of mammals are under threat of extinction, the population of carnivores in the Carpathians are of immeasurable value.
Mammals
The wolfCanis lupus
In total, the wolf population amounts to more than 4 000 individuals (45% of Europe's population) and the Carpathians provide the only link between Europe's northern and southern populations. Wolves play essential role in the life of the region, controlling numbers of prey species like red deer and wild boar and acting as an "indicator" for the presence of these species. As this unique population of wolves attracts increasing interantional attention, awareness of the need to conserve the wolf is growing in Central and Eastern Europe. The wolf has a large distribution area and lives in a variety of habitats. Mainly concentrated in the Romanian Carpathians (3000 individuals), also present in Poland (250), Slovakia (300 - 450), Ukraine (350) with a few in Czech Republic and Hungary.
Wolf in Bieszczady Mountains
A dream of a nature lover
Encountering with the wolf in the wilderness is a dream of every nature lover. Because of the fact, that the wolf is extremely shy animal the probability of personal observing is very low. This dream had come true in Bieszczady Mountains located in the south-easternmost corner of Poland, which is well known for its highest density of wolves in Europe.
Rare encountering with the wolf in the Polish Carpathians - by LukZem
European bisonBison bonasus
Descended from the great Long-horned bison, which went extinct in Europe at the same time as the Woolly mammoth and Cave bear, the European bison is a relict of ancient times. Historically, the European bison ranged throghout Europe - intense hunting pressure has reduced this to only 30 populations in the wild. The Carpathian free-ranging population, reintroduced after being eradicated 200 years ago, is the only one inhabiting Europe's mountains. Small herds now range across the Polish Bieszczady Mountains (190 individuals in 2004) and easternmost part of the Ukrainian Carpathians (Bukovynska Reserve - 100 animals in 2004). Only 7 animals left in Ukrainian Skolivsky Beskydy after reintroduction in 1965. In December 2004 5 European bisons were introduced to the wild in the north-easternmost corner of Slovakia called Bukovské Vrchy (Beech hills). In these countries the species is under strict protection. Due to its habitat and spatial requirements, this species may serve as an umbrella species for other endangered animals.
Vanatori Neamt Natural Park (ROMANIA)
Free-ranging wisent in the Bieszczady (POLAND)
Bukovské Vrchy (SLOVAKIA)
This video footage comes from Vanatori Neamt Natural Park situated in the eastern part of Romanian Carpathians. There is a 180 ha acclimatization enclosure with about 30 animals. The Administration of the park implements an ambitious programme for restoration of this species to the wild. Currently the European bison in Romania can be found only in captivity in three bison breeding reserves being under National Forest Administration authority (Dragos Voda, Hateg Slivut and Neagra Bucsani). National and natural parks in Romanian Carpathians provide the largest potential area for free-ranging bison population. Especially the group of five parks (Rodnei, Calimani, Ceahlau, Cheile Bicazului-Hasmas and Vanatori Neamt)situated in north-eastern part of the country seems to be the most appropriate because of habitat conditions and proximity of the largest Ukrainian population of the species, which may allow for the establishment of a future transboundary population.
Acclimatization enclosures in the Romanian and Slovakian Carpathians - by LukZem
Carpathian stagCervus elaphus
Probably as a result of high-quality food in late summer, the Carpathian stag reach record weight of 300 kg.
Bucovina (Romania)
His majesty
Chornohora (Ukraine)
These precious creatures are filmed in their natural habitat in the wild. His majesty - the Carpathian stag - has made us to fall in love with him when we were kids. We put into this video a few moments of its fascinating behaviour. The rutting season of roe deer is amazing and can be heard through the forests and glades of the Carpathian Mountains. We are passionate about hunting with camera, leaving animals alive and sharing our pleasure with other people.
Carpathian stag of Bucovina Mountains - the Romanian Carpathians - by Emil Bodnari and Stelian Bodnari
The diverse habitats in the Carpathians support a wide variety of bird species, using the region for nesting, migrating and wintering. Overall, more than 300 species are found in the Carpathians - a region which has been described as a "birdwatchers" paradise.
Ural owlStrix uralensis
The dense deciduous and mixed forests provide a home for bird species such as Ural owl.As a top predator it is a good indicator of ecosystem balance. The Ural owl is sensitive to habitat alteration and fragmentation. 20% of the European population of the Ural owl is found in the Carpathians. The Carpathian population is stable or increasing in some countries (Hungary, Romania). Population density in Magurski National Park in Poland (Beskid Niski) was 5pairs/10sq.km. The population in this national park comprises about 20% of the total Polish population. It also occurs very densely (approx.4pairs/10sq.km) in Bieszczady Mountains.
Red-listed species
Strix uralensis
Ural owl is more often found in moist rather than dry areas. It nests in hollow tree trunks, occasionally in old raptor nests. The Ural Owl feeds on rodents and medium-sized to large birds. Its territorial call can carry up to two kilometres.
When visiting the largest virgin beech forest of Europe – the Uholsko-Shirokoluzhanskyi massif in Transcarpathia, I was lucky to observe this very rare nocturnal bird during daytime when searching for a prey.
Ural owl in the Ukrainian Carpathians - by LukZem
Golden eagleAquila chrysaetos
The golden eagle nests in all the major mountains of Europe. Its European population numbers around 5 000 pairs. In Central and Eastern Europe its typical range lies in the Carpathians, where there are about 200 pairs. The species is valued also for falconry and is therefore the subject of "bird crime".
The king of heaven in Low Tatras
Young eagle in Fagaras Mountains
For a nature lover, observing this real king of airspace is one of the most amazing moments. The first part of this video footage was recorded in Romania's Fagaras Mountains, while the second part comes from Slovakia's Low Tatras.
Golden eagle in the Romanian and Slovakian Carpathians - by LukZem
Reptiles
As warm-weather animals, reptiles are found only in the lower altitudes and foothills of the Carpathians, in open or semi-open vegetation.
AdderVipera berus
The common viper is found in different terrains. Habitat complexity is essential for different aspects of its behaviour as basking or hibernation. There are three major variations of this snake (black, grey, brown). Typical feature is its zigzag dorsal pattern down the entire length of the body and tail. It feeds on small mammals, birds, lizards, amphibians and in some cases on spiders, worms and insects.
Vipera ammodytes
Vipera berus on the run
Adder in Little Fatra
Encountering with the adder is often a "nightmare" for the majority of people. However, this snake is not regarded as highly dangerous. The Viper usually escapes before you approach closer, due to its response to underground vibrations. This was true in Little Fatra and Bukovské Vrchy (Beech hills) in Slovakia, where this video footage was taken.
Adder in the Slovakian Carpathians - by LukZem
Amphibians
Amphibians are found mainly in the forested regions of the Carpathians, developing in small streams and seasonal water reserves.
The newtTriturus montandoni
The beech forests harbour the endemic newt species Carpathians' newt Triturus montandoni as well as the Alpine newt Triturus alpestris. Carpathian newt is a faunistic element of this mountain range, which inhabits humid, shady slopes in deciduous forests. It reproduces in small water systems near springs or wet meadows. The majority of time is spent under stones, woods and leaves. Because of its endemism it is not mentioned in the Habitats directive, but it is protected by the Bern convention. In most Carpathian countries it is protected as an endangered species.
Trio of tritons
Newt in Svydovets
A video footage of the newt in the Ukrainian Carpathians - by LukZem
Invertebrates
The importance of invertebrates is easily ignored, yet they make an enormous contribution to the region's diversity. There are 35-40 000 species of insects in the Carpathians. A significant number of these are specific to certain regions - in the Polish Carpathians alone (a very small part of the mountain range), there are an estimated 200 unique insect species. These species are also influenced by environmental change.
Rosalia longicornRosalia alpina
The larvae of this extraordinary beetle usually develops in beech wood and its habitat is formed of decaying beech trees in natural, especially, virgin forests. However its population is decreasing due to elimination of old decaying trees and collection of specimens.
Romanian pair
Rosalia alpina
The Apollo butterfly Parnassius apollo
In Europe, this species occurs in the mountains. In the Carpathians, it is found on xerothermic meadows on southern slopes. The larvae feeds on the stonecrop.
Parnassius Apollo in Low Tatras
The Apollo butterfly
The Apollo butterfly is one of the most diminishing butterfly species in Europe, threatened by forest succession and collection of specimens. At the beginning of the 1990s, this beautiful white butterfly existed in the Carpathian mountains in only a few isolated populations - the result of a 60-year persistent population decline. The rehabilitation of the population in the Pieniny Mountains of Poland is seen as a key example in the conservation and restoration of invertebrates.
This video footage was recorded in Low Tatras' Ohniště
The Apollo butterfly in the Slovakian Carpathians - by LukZem
