Planning a trip to the Balkans and wondering what kinds of wildlife you might encounter? With vast swathes of undisturbed forests and wetlands, the peninsula is teeming with animals which are rare, if not extinct, in the UK.
Despite being popular for the beaches, Albania is actually two-thirds forests and mountains. Across the border in Montenegro, lots of nature hotspots are under environmental protection, including Lake Skadar National Park which is on its way to becoming a biosphere and joining the Amazon of Europe. Serbia, Kosovo and Croatia equally boast their fair share of natural habitats.
So, in short, the Balkans is the place to visit for wildlife sightings in Europe. Sadly though, there’s a way to go before proper protection is in place for many of the species listed below, meaning they’re at threat of dying out due to human activity (read: damming, deforestation and pollution). That’s why we’re on a mission as a travel company to support vital conservation efforts in the region by donating to our chosen local NGOs through our Book to Give Back scheme and touring responsibly.
So, without further adieu, here are but some of the fantastic wild animals you could see (or hear) in the Balkans.
1. Dalmatian Pelican
It’s the world’s largest member of the pelican family with a wingspan of two metres and weighing around 9.5 kg respectfully, the Dalmatian Pelican is also quite possibly the world’s largest freshwater bird. A lot of work is being done to protect these beautiful creatures in Montenegro and Albania, particularly in Lake Skadar National Park (Villa Miela’s location), where there’s a sizable population. You’ll also find them in large numbers on Albania’s twin lakes Ohrid and Prespa, which you can visit on our South Albania holiday.
2. Wild Horses
During the 1990s conflicts, local people in the mountains in western Bosnia and Herzegovina abandoned their agricultural horses. They’ve thrived in the wild and over the last 15 years or so their numbers have been increasing. You can also find bands of wild horses in Serbia on Mount Suluvi, in North Albania and in Pristina National Park in Kosovo.
3. Golden Jackal
This beautiful, wolf-like canine can be found across Eastern Europe and even as far Southeast Asia. Golden Jackals are nocturnal and you’re more likely to hear them than see them. They cry loudly at night, particularly during the breeding season. As well as barking, they cry with a high pitched, wailing howl.
4. Wild Boar
Also known as a wild pig or wild swine, these woodland rootlers are nocturnal, but we have it on good authority from past guests that some of them didn’t get that memo. Fear not if you do encounter one on a hike, like most wild animals, they’re shy and would only bite if cornered. Wild boar can be found widely across Europe and the rest of the world in deciduous forests and marshlands.
5. Eurasian Brown Bear
Though found elsewhere in Europe, the biggest populations of Eurasian Brown Bears can be found in the Western Balkans, particularly in Croatia and Slovenia, as well as in Scandinavia. Again, they’re nocturnal, so you’re unlikely to come across one during a hike unless you’re out after dark and even then, they would choose to run over confronting you. Eurasian Brown Bears tend to live in wooded mountain areas in the Dinaric Alps, such as Tara National Park in Serbia. Sadly, due to loss of habitat, numbers are on the decline.
6. Fire Salamander
This striking amphibian is Europe’s largest salamander, growing up to 20 cm. And they can live for up to 50 years! Characterised by their yellow/orange spots or stripes, they can be found in deciduous forests at altitudes of between 250 and 1,000 metres above sea level. They’re found widely around southern Europe, particularly in Spain and the Balkans. If you’re hiking in the Dinaric Alps, be sure to look down at puddles, ponds and other watering holes along the way for the chance of a sighting. They also like to hide in fallen leaves and bark.
7. Marginated Tortoise
The Marginated Tortoise is Europe’s largest tortoise with males growing up to 40 cm in size and five kilograms in mass. They’re named after the shape of the scutes which flare out like a skirt at the end of their shells. Marginated Tortoises can be found across the Balkans as well as Greece and Italy in rocky hillsides, fields and meadows, Mediterranean scrub land and forest. But these guys can also be found in high altitudes, some even above 5,000 ft. Thanks to their black shell, Marginated Tortoises can quickly absorb heat from the sun at higher elevations.
Related:
- The 7 best national parks in the Western Balkans
- The best cold water swimming spots in the Balkans
- 10 tips for travelling sustainably in the Balkans
8. Flamingo
Who needs Mexico when you can see these blushing beauties in just a couple of hours’ flight time from the UK? There are pink flamingo colonies dotted around the Balkans, including at Vjosa National Park in Albania and Lake Skadar in Montenegro (during winter).
9. Eurasian Wolf
The Eurasian Wolf – aka the Grey Wolf – is the national animal of Serbia as it’s considered a symbol of fearfulness. In fact, ‘Vuk’ which means ‘Wolf’ is one of the most common boy’s names there. You’ll find these predators widely across Europe in a variety of habitats, ranging from forests and mountains to swamps and deserts. The Balkans and parts of Italy and Spain are some of the few places this species hasn’t been driven to extinction and thanks to increasing numbers of prey, their population is on the rise.
10. Eurasian Scops-Owl
There have been many occasions when we’ve hunkered down for the night at Villa Miela and thought somebody’s car alarm had been set off when actually, it was the twit-twoos of the Scops-Owl. This small Old World owl is identifiable by its striking yellow eyes, streaky grey plumage and two crests which look like ears, distinguishing it from the Little Owl. Eurasian Scops-Owls are found across Europe and parts of Asia in wooded areas, meaning Lake Skadar National Park provides the perfect habitat for them.
11. Horned Viper
So, you may be asking if there are any dangerous animals in the Balkans? Well, apart from wolves and jackals and bears (oh my!), the Horned Viper, Europe’s deadliest snake is known to live in these parts. But before you go cancelling your flights, they’re very shy and if on the extremely rare occasion you are bitten, there’s an anti-venom. Horned Vipers are generally found in Southern Europe as well as parts of Africa and Asia in dry, rocky hillsides. They’re deceptively cute with their little horns and striking diamond pattern.
12. Balkan Lynx
A subspecies of the Eurasian Lynx, this wild cat is Europe’s third-largest predator. It’s sadly endangered and therefore rare, but naturalists have found evidence of its habitation in Albania, Kosovo, the western parts of North Macedonia and more recently, Montenegro.
We won’t lie, it’s very unlikely you’ll spot one of these in the flesh. You have a better chance of encountering one when making change at a cafe in North Macedonia – the Balkan Lynx is a national symbol and pictured on the five dinar coin.
13. Ohrid trout
Though trout is in abundance across the Balkans and other parts of Europe, the Ohrid trout or the Lake Ohrid brown trout (as the name suggests) is only found in Lake Ohrid and its tributaries in Albania and North Macedonia, so how could we not give it a shoutout in our roundup of Balkan wildlife? If you’re joining us on our South Albania holiday, you’ll have a chance to see one when we visit Lake Ohrid.
14. Albanian Water Frog
As the name suggests, this vocal little amphibian is native to Albania – and parts of Montenegro. You can see (and hear) it at Lake Skadar/Lake Shkodra in Montenegro/Albania and around other rivers and lakes in the region. They’re particularly noisy around mating season in the spring.
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